8 incidents in 2 weeks: What's happening with United planes?

An engine fire caused by plastic wrapping, a missing tire shortly after takeoff and a plane that skidded off the runway: These are among eight incidents that have occurred in the past two weeks on flights operated by United Airlines. While no injuries, or worse, have been reported, the mishaps have generated headlines and stoked growing anxiety about aviation safety among federal officials and passengers alike.

All of the incidents occurred in the United States and five involved planes made by Boeing, a manufacturer already under intense scrutiny. In January, a door plug on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 plane exploded mid-flight, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing.

United, one of the world's largest airlines, flies planes made primarily by Boeing and Airbus. In an email United began sending to customers on Monday, the company's CEO Scott Kirby wrote that while the recent incidents were unrelated, they were “reminders of the importance of safety.”

“I want you to know that these incidents have drawn our attention and have sharpened our focus,” he continued, adding that the airline was reviewing each case and would influence its training and safety procedures.

Here's what travelers should know about the latest airplane problems.

What exactly happened on the planes?

Most of the incidents reported in the last two weeks required emergency landings or diversions.

Are the recent problems typical or cause concern?

The mishaps were not the result of “systemic problems,” said Robert Sumwalt, a former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board who now heads a new aviation safety center at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

“Some of these issues are things that happen occasionally, but are often not reported in the media,” Sumwalt said, although he emphasized that none were acceptable.

Kyra Dempsey, who writes about aviation accidents on a blog called Admiral Cloudberg, said United's recent problems were being “falsely conflated with Boeing's problems.”

“While it is unfortunate that United has had so many incidents in such a short period, in general these types of incidents occur frequently around the world and are not on the rise overall,” Ms Dempsey said.

How have United responded?

Kirby's 270-word message to United customers, including members of the airline's frequent flyer program, began going out Monday morning, said Josh Freed, a United spokesman.

Starting in May, United pilots will have an additional day of in-person training, a change that was already planned before the incidents, Kirby wrote. The airline will also use a “centralized training curriculum for our new contract maintenance technicians” and dedicate additional resources to the airline's supply chain.

What government agencies oversee these issues and how are they responding?

The Federal Aviation Administration regulates the nation's aviation system and investigates safety incidents at U.S. airlines, while the NTSB investigates the causes of accidents, collisions and crashes involving airplanes piloted by U.S. carriers, as well as other accidents involving operators. commercial and public transportation. Both agencies have discretion over what they investigate, Sumwalt said.

The NTSB is currently investigating the March 8 incident in Houston, when the plane skidded off the runway, an agency spokesperson said. The NTSB is also investigating a Feb. 10 Los Angeles to Newark flight, operated by United, that experienced severe turbulence that caused injuries to more than a dozen passengers. (The Boeing 777 landed normally, but the flight was met by medical personnel.)

Security experts said some issues don't necessarily rise to the level of an investigation by either agency.

For example, partial loss of some of an airplane's multiple hydraulic systems is common, said Michael McCormick, an assistant professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and former FAA control tower operator. The FAA may or may not get involved in these types of issues unless there is a pattern, Sumwalt said.

The January episode involving the burst door plug aboard the Alaska Airlines plane is being investigated by the NTSB and the Department of Justice.

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