United Airlines Flight Safely Lands in Oregon Despite Missing Fuselage Panel
A United Airlines flight successfully landed at Rogue Valley International Airport in Medford, Oregon, despite a missing fuselage panel on Friday, according to airline officials.
United flight 433, which departed from San Francisco, arrived at the Oregon airport around 11:30 local time (18:30 GMT), carrying 139 passengers and 6 crew members aboard a 25-year-old Boeing 737-800.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident, as the missing panel went unnoticed throughout the flight.
Amber Judd, a senior official at Rogue Valley International Medford Airport, confirmed that the plane landed safely and the missing external panel was only discovered during a post-flight inspection. She assured that a thorough examination and necessary repairs would be conducted before the aircraft returns to service.
The investigation into the incident will focus on understanding the circumstances leading to the damage, particularly concerning the missing panel located next to the landing gear underneath the aircraft.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the panel detachment, adding to Boeing’s ongoing safety scrutiny following recent incidents involving its aircraft.
In January, a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft experienced a cabin door blowout shortly after takeoff, prompting an emergency landing and raising concerns about the quality and safety of Boeing’s planes. The incident underscored the need for rigorous inspections and compliance measures.
In response to safety concerns, Boeing has issued guidance to airlines regarding seat checks and control panel precautions to prevent similar incidents in the future. Despite these challenges, commercial aviation continues to be regarded as one of the safest modes of travel, according to industry experts and regulators.
