United Airlines Under FAA Review Concludes with No Significant Safety Issues

By David Shepardson

Date: WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Wednesday that its review of United Airlines revealed no significant safety concerns. As a result, the FAA has lifted its enhanced oversight and approval process for the airline, allowing it to add new aircraft and services.

Background of the Review

The FAA initiated the review in March to assess the Chicago-based airline’s compliance with safety regulations after several safety incidents earlier in the year. According to the FAA’s statement, the review did not uncover any major safety issues.

United Airlines did not provide a comment on the matter on Wednesday, but previously indicated that it had delayed the launch of two new international routes due to some certification pauses related to the FAA’s safety review.

FAA Administrator’s Statements

In a statement to Reuters last month, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker noted that the review process was nearing completion. He mentioned that while United can now accept the delivery of new aircraft, FAA personnel will need to be present during the final inspections of these aircraft, which are set to replace older models.

Summary of Incidents

The review follows several safety incidents involving United Airlines:
– On March 15, a panel was reported missing from a United aircraft upon landing in Oregon.
– A United-operated Boeing 737 MAX experienced a minor incident where it rolled onto grass in Houston.
– Another incident involved a United 777 losing a tire after takeoff, which safely diverted to Los Angeles.

CEO Scott Kirby responded to queries regarding the FAA review, emphasizing that there was no correlation between the incidents and that the review affirmed the airline’s strong safety measures.

Looking Ahead

In July, the FAA announced a similar safety review for Southwest Airlines due to a series of near-miss incidents linked to pilot-related issues. According to Whitaker, the Southwest review is narrower in scope compared to the one conducted for United Airlines.