What’s Behind the Recent Incidents Involving United Airlines? Insights from Aviation Experts.

Recently, United Airlines has faced at least 10 issues related to maintenance and flight diversions, with some incidents drawing significant attention. United CEO Scott Kirby reassured the public this week, stating that these matters are "all unrelated" and have heightened the airline's focus on safety, though anxious travelers might question if this renewed focus is sufficient.

We investigated the circumstances surrounding the recent incidents involving United Airlines, the measures the airline is taking to rectify these problems, and how these events might impact your future travel plans.

Recent Safety Concerns with United Airlines

Here is a summary of 10 United Airlines flight incidents reported in the media during the first three weeks of March. Although Boeing has faced scrutiny since a plug door failure on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 Max in January, it's important to note that these incidents involved various aircraft models produced by both Boeing and Airbus. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in any of these cases, but one passenger on the Houston flight remarked that "seeing people scream and send farewell messages (and) emails mid-flight will have lasting effects on mental health."

Here’s a summary of events:

• On March 4, two incidents occurred: the first involved a Boeing 737-900 on a United flight from Houston to Fort Myers, Florida, which had to return for an emergency landing after the engine ingested plastic bubble wrap and caught fire. The second incident involved a Boeing 757-300 flight from Honolulu to San Francisco, which declared an emergency when one engine failed over the Pacific. Fortunately, the plane landed safely at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), with passengers disembarking normally, as stated by United Airlines in a quote from the SF Chronicle.
• On March 7, a United Boeing 777-200 flight from San Francisco to Osaka, Japan, made a safe emergency landing at Los Angeles after losing a tire that subsequently damaged a parked car at SFO.
• On March 8, a United flight on a Boeing 737-8 Max from Memphis, Tennessee, to Houston skidded off the runway upon landing, ending up awkwardly on the grass next to the tarmac. That same day, another United flight on an Airbus A320 from San Francisco to Mexico City diverted to Los Angeles due to hydraulic system malfunctions.
• On March 9, a United Airbus A320 flight from Chicago O’Hare to Salt Lake City had to return to Chicago after reporting maintenance issues linked to an oil warning light.
• On March 11, a United Boeing 777-300ER flight from Sydney, Australia, to San Francisco returned to the airport shortly after takeoff due to a hydraulic leak.
• On March 14, a United flight on an Airbus A320 from Dallas to San Francisco experienced a hydraulic leak before landing, with smoke visible near the landing gear. Also that day, a Boeing 737-800 flight from San Francisco landed at Oregon’s Medford Airport missing an external panel.
• On March 18, a United Boeing 777-200 flight scheduled from SFO to Osaka returned to the gate after nearly two hours on the tarmac, with passengers deplaning after the pilot announced, "Right engine not functioning."

Measures Taken by United Airlines to Address the Concerns

In light of the series of incidents, on March 18, Kirby reached out to customers with a statement aiming to reassure them that all is well.

Kirby stated, "Regrettably, our airline has faced several incidents in recent weeks that remind us of the critical importance of safety. Although these events are unrelated, I want to assure you that they have captured our attention and intensified our focus on safety."

He emphasized, "Safety is our top priority and is fundamental to all our operations. . . . I am confident that we will extract valuable lessons from these recent incidents and continue to operate with safety as our foremost concern."

In the statement, United also reiterated its already scheduled pilot and maintenance training programs. Kirby mentioned that the airline would enhance resources dedicated to "supplier network management," suggesting that some accountability may lie outside the airline itself.

Some passengers impacted by the flight incidents expressed dissatisfaction with United’s response, claiming it was minimal and that reimbursements were inadequate. In the case of the engine fire incident in Houston, United initially offered passengers a $15 meal voucher and a $100 credit for future travel, which was later increased to $200 after customer complaints. "[Customer] service treated it as if it were just a flight delay, downplaying and dismissing the emotional impact on the passengers," remarked passenger Jonathan Boulahanis, who shared his experience on X (formerly Twitter).

Potential Impacts of These Incidents on Your Travel Plans

Although United's response to the incidents may seem lacking, experts in the industry are not overly worried about safety concerns associated with the airline.

"While it's natural for travelers to feel apprehensive about the recent incidents and mechanical issues involving United aircraft, there doesn't seem to be any systemic flaw," said Hassan Shahidi, CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, a safety advocacy group established in 1945, in an emailed statement to Dinogo. "Each incident was distinct, involving various aircraft models and unrelated to one another. All cases are currently under investigation by United's technical and safety teams, who are assessing what occurred, why, and will implement measures to prevent similar issues in the future."

"Overall, very little about this [United situation] is significant," Brian Sumers, an industry analyst and founder of the Airline Observer newsletter, told Dinogo. "Every day, numerous airplanes return to the airport due to safety or maintenance concerns. United operates nearly 1,000 planes... Honestly, I'd be surprised if the airline didn’t experience a few unscheduled landings daily."

One possible consequence of these high-profile incidents could be an increase in flight delays. Given the heightened media attention surrounding these issues, expect United and other airlines to take extra precautions by allowing more time for maintenance and safety checks before departures, potentially substituting aircraft when necessary, and possibly canceling flights more frequently out of an abundance of caution to mitigate any aircraft-related risks.