United Airlines Boeing loses fuselage part in flight
Boeing plane loses part of fuselage in flight
A Boeing 737-800 lost a part of its fuselage on a flight from San Francisco to Oregon. The lack of the cover was only noticed after the United Airlines plane landed safely and as planned at the international airport in the small town of Medford.
It was only after the plane landed that a missing fuselage part was discovered on a Boeing 737-800 operated by United Airlines. The company announces an investigation.
EA United Airlines passenger plane lost a cover on its fuselage in flight on Friday. The damage to the Boeing 737-800 was only discovered on the ground after it landed without any problems in the city of Medford, Oregon, United said. The local newspaper “Rogue Valley Times” had previously published an eyewitness photo showing exposed mechanics.
According to United, the plane took off from San Francisco with 139 passengers and six crew members. Judging by the onboard number from another eyewitness photo, the aircraft was put into service in 1998.
Boeing is currently increasingly in the spotlight after a virtually new 737-9 Max aircraft lost a part of its fuselage while climbing after take-off at the beginning of January. According to initial investigations, the US accident investigation authority NTSB assumes that four fastening bolts were missing from the torn out fuselage fragment.
However, for a 25-year-old aircraft like United’s, maintenance or material fatigue are likely to play a larger role than production. United announced an investigation into how the incident occurred.
A few days ago, a breakdown report at United Airlines attracted attention. A Boeing 777 lost a wheel while taking off from San Francisco, damaging several cars. The plane with around 250 people on board, which was actually supposed to fly to Japan, landed in Los Angeles a short time later.