March 16th 2024.
On a typical Friday morning, a United Airlines plane was preparing to take off from Medford, Oregon. However, before the flight could even begin, a crucial external panel was found to be missing. This came as yet another safety concern for Boeing, as their aircrafts have been facing numerous issues recently.
The particular plane, a Boeing 737-824, had departed from San Francisco International Airport with 139 passengers and six crew members on board. It wasn't until the aircraft safely landed at Mogue Valley International/Medford Airport that the missing panel was discovered, as reported by KGO.
According to United Airlines, the panel was found to be missing after the plane had already parked at the gate. The pilots, unaware of the incident, had no indication that anything had happened during the flight. The missing panel, which was located underneath the aircraft where the wing and body meet, was later found by the airline.
United Airlines has assured that they will thoroughly examine the plane and make necessary repairs, while also conducting an investigation to determine how the damage occurred. As a precaution, the plane has been grounded until further notice. Fortunately, the flight had landed ahead of schedule and no debris was found at the scene.
Despite the alarming incident, the airline stated that there was no indication of damage during the flight and the pilots did not have to make an emergency landing. Airport Director Amber Judd confirmed that no one was injured and clarified that the plane was not a MAX aircraft.
Boeing has been facing a series of safety concerns, with multiple lawsuits being filed for recent incidents on their flights. One of the most concerning incidents involved an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-MAX 9, where a door plug fell out during the flight in January. Another incident on a United Airlines flight, a Boeing 777-200, resulted in part of the landing gear tire falling off during takeoff. The plane had to divert to Los Angeles International Airport, but no one was hurt.
Just a few days ago, another United Airlines flight, a Boeing 777-300, had to turn back to Australia after fuel was observed spilling from its landing gear. These incidents have caused a major setback for the aviation giant and have raised serious concerns about the safety of their aircrafts.
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