What’s Going on With All the United Airplane Incidents? Aviation Experts Weigh In.

22.03.2024 - 13:13 / afar.com / Scott Kirby / Airlines

In recent weeks, United Airlines aircraft have experienced at least 10 maintenance and flight diversion issues, some more dramatic than others. While United CEO Scott Kirby issued a statement this week saying the issues were “all unrelated” and “have our attention and have sharpened our focus,” nervous fliers may be wondering if this “focus” is enough.

We looked into what happened in the recent United Airlines incidents, what the airline is doing to address them, and how this may influence your travel decisions.

Below is a list of 10 United Airlines flight incidents reported in the news in the first three weeks of March. While Boeing has been in the hot seat ever since the plug door blew out on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 Max in January, it’s worth noting that these issues occurred across multiple aircraft types manufactured by Boeing and Airbus. No injuries were reported in any of these incidents, but one passenger from the Houston flight (mentioned below) stated that “people screaming and sending goodbye texts (and) emails mid-air will affect mental health for years to come.”

Here’s a recap:

Following the series of incidents, on March 18, Kirby sent a statement to customers trying to assure them that everything is okay.

“Unfortunately, in the past few weeks, our airline has experienced a number of incidents that are reminders of the importance of safety,” Kirby said in the statement. “While they are all unrelated, I want you to know that these incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus.”

He added, “Safety is our highest priority and is at the center of everything we do. . . . I’m confident that we’ll learn the right lessons from these recent incidents and continue to run an operation that puts safety first.”

United also highlighted already planned upcoming pilot and maintenance training programs in the statement. Kirby noted that the airline will add resources to “supplier network management,” implying some blame may lay elsewhere.

Some passengers affected by the flight incidents felt United’s response has been limited and that it offered minimal reimbursements. For the flaming-engine situation in Houston, United gave passengers a $15 meal credit and $100 credit for future travel, which was raised to $200 after customers pushed back. “[Customer] service treated it like it was a mere flight delay, minimized and discounted the emotional toll it took on the passengers,” according to passenger Jonathan Boulahanis, who posted about his experience on X (formerly Twitter).

While United’s response to the incidents might appear underwhelming, industry experts aren’t panicking about safety issues regarding the airline.

“It’s understandable that the recent incidents and mechanical issues