A United Airlines plane experienced a frightening incident on Monday when it lost a wheel during takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport. This marks the latest in a series of issues for the airline, which has been under scrutiny by federal aviation officials for safety concerns.
The Boeing 757-200 aircraft, with 174 customers and seven crew members on board, managed to complete its scheduled flight to Denver and landed safely, with no injuries reported on the ground. The airline has confirmed that the wheel has been recovered in Los Angeles, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the event. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also conducting its own investigation into the matter.
This incident comes after a similar occurrence earlier this year when another United Airlines flight lost a wheel during takeoff from San Francisco International Airport, causing damage to several cars in a parking lot. Despite the mishap, the plane, en route to Osaka, Japan, was able to land safely in Los Angeles without any injuries reported.
In March, there were at least a dozen incidents involving United Airlines flights, prompting CEO Scott Kirby to address the safety concerns. While stating that the incidents were unrelated, Kirby emphasized the airline's commitment to safety and the need to focus on improving operational processes.
Following these events, the FAA initiated a safety review of United Airlines, which will involve a comprehensive assessment of the airline's operations, manuals, and facilities. The review aims to ensure that the airline is in full compliance with safety regulations and is effectively managing risks to promote a culture of safety.
In response to the safety review, United Airlines acknowledged the increased FAA presence in its operations and emphasized the importance of maintaining safety compliance across all areas of its operation. The FAA's safety assurance system is designed to monitor airlines' compliance with regulations, risk assessment, and safety management to uphold the highest safety standards.
