United Airlines Flight 433 made headlines on Friday after a missing external panel was discovered on the aircraft following a routine flight to southern Oregon. The Boeing 737-800 landed at Rogue Valley International Medford Airport (MFR) without incident, but upon inspection, it was found that a panel on the underside of the plane was missing. The missing panel, near where the wing meets the body of the aircraft, covered mechanical parts next to where the landing gear deploys.
The missing panel was only noticed after the flight had landed and passengers had disembarked. Luckily, there were no injuries reported among the 139 passengers and six crew members on board. United Airlines spokesperson confirmed that there was no mid-flight emergency or any other signs of damage during the flight. The incident was only discovered during a routine inspection after the plane had arrived at the gate.
A photo of the missing panel, first published by the Rogue Valley Times, showed a jagged piece of metal plating that appeared to have been torn away. The airline and airport officials immediately began investigating the incident. United Airlines released a statement saying that they would conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all necessary repairs before the aircraft returns to service. They also stated that an investigation would be carried out to understand how the damage occurred.
The Boeing 737-800 involved in the incident was an older “Next Generation” model that was first delivered to Continental Airlines in 1998. It became part of United Airlines’ fleet after the merger of the two airlines in 2012. This incident is the latest in a series of incidents involving Boeing aircraft, as the planemaker has faced intense scrutiny in recent years.
Boeing has been under the spotlight following various incidents involving their aircraft, including an early January incident aboard an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9. In that incident, a door plug that seals part of the fuselage blew off mid-flight, causing the cabin to depressurize. This incident further fueled concerns about the safety and reliability of Boeing aircraft.
United Airlines has also been involved in several incidents in recent weeks. Just last week, a United Airlines 737 MAX rolled off a runway into the grass at IAH, causing part of its landing gear to collapse. Additionally, a tire fell from a Boeing 777-200 flown by United as it departed from San Francisco International Airport, damaging cars in an employee parking lot.
In response to inquiries about the incident, a Boeing spokesperson directed questions to United Airlines. The investigation into the missing panel on Flight 433 is ongoing, and more information will be provided as the story develops.
Overall, the incident with United Airlines Flight 433 highlights the importance of rigorous maintenance and inspection procedures in ensuring the safety of airline operations. It also underscores the need for transparency and accountability in addressing any issues that may arise during flights. As the investigation continues, both United Airlines and Boeing will work to determine the cause of the missing panel and take necessary steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.