United Airlines Plane Loses Tire Mid-Air: Emergency Landing at Los Angeles International Airport
In a new incident involving Boeing, a United Airlines plane suffered a mid-air incident on Thursday when one of its tires became detached during takeoff from San Francisco. The Boeing B777-200 jet was en route to Japan, carrying 249 people, when the incident occurred.
United Airlines reported that a safe emergency landing was conducted at Los Angeles International Airport. Upon arrival, authorities commenced inspections on the plane as well as the tire that detached. Luckily, the tire fell into an airport parking lot, posing no risk of injuries.
Incident on the Same Day as Prior Boeing Incident
Interestingly, this event occurred on the same day as a recent incident involving a United Airlines Boeing flight. In that incident, a MAX 8 jet attempting to land at Newark airport in New Jersey experienced an issue with its rudder pedals becoming ‘stuck’. However, no injuries were reported, and the plane and its passengers landed safely.
Previous Safety Concerns for Boeing
Over the past few months, Boeing has faced extensive scrutiny due to a series of safety concerns surrounding its aircraft. In early January, a 737 MAX 9 jet suffered a mid-air cabin panel blowout. In response, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instructed airlines operating the older Boeing 737-900ER jets to conduct inspections of door plugs due to potential issues with bolts. Furthermore, Boeing recommended inspections in December for loose bolts in the rudder control systems of 737 MAX airplanes, leading to subsequent orders by the FAA in this regard.
Boeing’s Commitment to Quality Control
Addressing the ongoing apprehensions regarding quality control, Boeing announced on Thursday that it plans to revamp the distribution of executive and staff bonuses, prioritizing safety and quality as key factors. Going forward, 60% of the bonus payout for the company’s commercial planes will be based on these two critical metrics. Moreover, Boeing stated that this year’s operational goals will be exclusively focused on enhancing safety measures and maintaining optimal quality standards.
