United Airlines Holdings Inc experienced another unsettling incident when yet another one of its Boeing aircraft lost a main landing gear wheel during takeoff on Monday. This mishap mirrors an incident in March that had already spurred a federal safety review of the airline, raising eyebrows and questions about the carrier’s safety protocols.
According to a United spokesperson’s email, no injuries were reported on United Flight 1001. The Boeing 757-200 aircraft departed Los Angeles at 7:16 a.m. local time and landed safely at Denver International Airport at 10:10 a.m. However, what could have been a routine flight turned heads when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced its investigation into the incident.
United Airlines revealed that the stray wheel was located in Los Angeles, opting not to divulge further specifics. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the 174 passengers and seven crew members on board, or any individuals on the ground. The Boeing 757-200 is equipped with four wheels on each of its two main landing gear units.
Despite the alarming nature of the event, United Airlines shares dipped slightly by 0.4% on Monday, although they have risen by 13.5% for the year to date. This recent mishap feels like déjà vu, eerily reminiscent of a March incident where another of United’s planes lost a wheel shortly after takeoff from San Francisco on a flight bound for Osaka, Japan. Then, a Boeing 777-200 carrying 249 passengers was forced to divert to Los Angeles International Airport, landing safely with no injuries reported. However, the wheel mishap was captured on video by RadarBox and shared on X.com (formerly Twitter). The runaway wheel even managed to cause some damage to vehicles in a parking lot.
Following these unsettling occurrences, the FAA initiated an extensive safety review of United Airlines, especially after a slew of other high-profile incidents within a few weeks. These included an aircraft running off a runway in Houston and a piece of an aircraft fuselage coming loose in mid-flight.
More recently, just last month, a United plane returned to an airport in Connecticut after losing part of a liner from inside an engine cover. And as if to keep the trend alive, just this past Sunday, a United Airlines flight bound for Guam had to return to Nagoya’s international airport in Japan due to a detected system malfunction. In that instance, there were no injuries among the 44 passengers and six crew members.
As for the latest incident, United Airlines assures us that they are diving deeply into the investigation. In a year riddled with safety reviews and unexpected landings, one can only hope that these investigations lead to resolutions that prevent such nerve-wracking experiences in the future. After all, a smooth takeoff and landing are integral to a peaceful journey among the clouds.
United Airlines really needs to get it together. This is getting out of hand!
Agreed. How does an airline lose wheels twice in one year? Totally unacceptable.
From what I understand, it’s not uncommon. Maintenance issues happen; it’s just a matter of how they’re managed and reported.
Management or not, this is still terrifying. I can’t imagine being on that flight.
Sounds like United is cutting corners on maintenance to save costs.
That’s a serious accusation. Cutting corners would be illegal and could lead to lawsuits.
It’s not an accusation without basis. United has had a history of maintenance issues.
How did nobody get injured with a wheel coming off mid-air? That’s some miracle.
Luck and skilled piloting, I guess. Imagine if that happened during landing…
Actually, the aircraft can typically function without one wheel for the duration of the flight. Still, it’s definitely unsafe.
Good to know, but doesn’t make it any less scary!
Maybe we should all avoid United until they sort out their issues.
I’ve been avoiding them for years. These incidents just reinforce my decision.
FAA needs to impose stricter regulations and penalties on United. This is getting ridiculous!
Right? The FAA should step in before something tragic happens.
Exactly. Too many close calls already!
But you can’t just single out United. Maintenance issues happen to many airlines.
Are these issues because they use older planes? Just wondering.
Somewhat. Older planes require more maintenance, but they can still be safe if properly maintained.
Age is a factor, but maintenance quality is what really matters.
What’s going on with United’s maintenance team? This is insane!
Right? If this keeps up, they’re going to lose all their customers.
It’s a complex issue. The airline industry has been under a lot of stress post-pandemic.
Sounds like United is a disaster waiting to happen. FAA should shut them down if this continues.
Shutting down an airline is a bit extreme, but they definitely need to fix these issues soon.
A wheel came off during takeoff, and no one knew until later? How can anyone feel safe flying with United?
Sometimes issues are only noticed during post-flight inspections. Still, it’s concerning.
At least the pilots landed safely, credit where it’s due.
Yes, credit to the pilots, but doesn’t excuse the maintenance crew’s fault.
Think twice before booking with United until they can assure 100% safety.
Bet their stock will tank if these incidents keep happening.
It dipped slightly, but businesses bounce back. Let’s see for how long though.
The era of budget cuts leading to negligence is upon us.
Cost-cutting happens across industries, but aviation should never compromise on safety.
I was on that flight! There were whispers, but nothing was officially communicated until we landed.
That’s terrifying! I hope airlines start taking these incidents more seriously.
Boeing should also be under scrutiny. These issues aren’t solely United’s fault.
True, Boeing shares some blame but the ultimate responsibility lies with the airline.
If I were a frequent flyer, I’d reconsider my loyalty to United.
Sadly, I’m stuck with United for work. These incidents aren’t helping but switching carriers isn’t always easy.