The FAA remains to be working to verify United is compliant with security laws after a number of incidents, together with an engine fireplace, occurred earlier this yr.
United Airways says that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is permitting the corporate so as to add new planes and routes once more after a collection of latest incidents, however the FAA refuted that declare in a Could 16 assertion to The Epoch Occasions.
The FAA initiated a proper analysis into United in March to make sure the airline was “complying with security laws; figuring out hazards and mitigating threat; and successfully managing security” after a number of accidents, together with an engine fireplace and a tire falling off a aircraft throughout takeoff.
“The FAA has not authorised any growth of United Airways’ routes or fleets. The Certificates Holder Analysis Program that the FAA is conducting for United is ongoing, and security will decide the timeline for finishing it,” the FAA mentioned.
The FAA defined that company personnel will likely be required to be current when United conducts its last inspections of any newly delivered plane that substitute older fashions.
United Airways didn’t reply to a request for remark earlier than press time.
The corporate made an inside announcement to staff on Thursday, saying there was some “excellent news” about its progress.
“After cautious overview and dialogue in regards to the proactive security steps United has taken to this point, our FAA Certificates Administration Workplace has allowed us to start restarting our certification actions, together with new plane and routes, and we’ll proceed to coordinate carefully with the FAA,” the United memo mentioned.
One of many incidents that triggered the FAA overview concerned an older Boeing 737-800 that was lacking an aluminum panel after it arrived at Rogue Valley Worldwide-Medford Airport in Oregon on March 15. The flight departed from San Francisco and made a secure touchdown earlier than officers seen the lacking panel throughout a post-flight inspection.
A unique incident on March 7 concerned one other United flight departing San Francisco. The aircraft, which was sure for Japan, misplaced one of many six tires on its left-side fundamental touchdown gear simply seconds after takeoff. Pilots made a secure touchdown in Los Angeles with none accidents.
Engine Fireplace
Three days earlier than that incident, a United flight from Houston to Fort Myers, Texas, needed to flip round after one of many jet’s engines caught on fireplace. Passengers took video of the flames billowing out of the engine mid-flight, however nobody was injured.
Throughout a February flight arriving in Newark, New Jersey, a problem occurred when a aircraft’s rudder pedals, used for steering on the runway, failed because it got here in for a touchdown. There have been no accidents. The jet concerned was a Boeing 737 Max 8, the identical aircraft concerned within the deadly 2018 and 2019 crashes.
The 737 Max 9 was the mannequin concerned within the Jan. 5 mid-flight door panel blowout of an Alaska Airways flight.
On March 8, officers evacuated passengers from a United flight that had rolled off a runway in Houston and gotten caught within the grass. Not one of the 160 passengers or six crew members have been damage.
Following the incidents, United CEO Scott Kirby informed prospects that they have been unrelated and that the airline was secure.
“Sadly, previously few weeks, our airline has skilled quite a lot of incidents which can be reminders of the significance of security,” he mentioned in a March 15 memo to prospects.
“Whereas they’re all unrelated, I need you to know that these incidents have our consideration and have sharpened our focus.”
Mr. Kirby mentioned United would overview every incident individually and decide if any adjustments have been warranted with security procedures and coaching.
On the time, the FAA mentioned its analysis would be certain that United was following security tips and laws and figuring out any potential dangers.
Reuters and The Related Press contributed to this report.