United Airlines discovers missing external panel on plane in Oregon
United Airlines detected a missing external panel after one of its planes landed in Oregon, adding to the growing pile of recent mishaps for Boeing.
The incident
The flight leaving San Francisco on the morning of 15 March safely reached its scheduled destination in Medford, Oregon, as confirmed by a United spokesperson.
However, after the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel. Surprisingly, there was no indication of damage during the flight and the aircraft did not declare an emergency.
United Airlines reassured its passengers and crew that there were no injuries, and they will conduct a thorough examination and repair of the Boeing 737-800 plane as needed before it returns to service.
Investigations and scrutiny
United Airlines will also initiate an investigation to determine the cause of the missing panel. Meanwhile, Boeing declined to comment and instead directed inquiries to United.
The incident on Friday is the latest in a series of recent problems faced by Boeing, which has been under intense scrutiny due to multiple issues on its planes.
Earlier in January, a Boeing 737 MAX plane experienced a blown-out panel mid-flight, leading to the grounding of 170 similar aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration. Furthermore, the Department of Justice initiated a criminal investigation into the matter.
In a separate incident this month, a United Airlines Boeing 737 plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Texas after its engine exploded and burst into flames mid-air.
In March, a LATAM Airlines flight from Australia to New Zealand encountered a “technical event” that caused a sudden drop, resulting in passengers hitting the roof of the plane and sustaining injuries.
Rigorous examination and need for transformation
With scrutiny mounting, Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, urged Boeing to cooperate with the ongoing probes and undergo significant transformation in terms of responsiveness, culture, and quality issues.
Boeing’s future stands uncertain as investigations continue and the company faces the imperative need for improvements and rectification.
