The Federal Aviation Administration is considering potential temporary actions against United Airlines beyond those outlined in a letter sent to employees, according to sources familiar with the matter.
This decision follows a series of troubling incidents involving United aircraft in the past month, such as a wheel detaching from a Boeing 777 and a panel detaching from an aging Boeing 737.
Among the temporary measures being discussed is the potential restriction of United from launching new routes for which tickets have not yet been made available. Another option under consideration is allowing the airline to receive new aircraft but halting their deployment for commercial flights carrying passengers.
A third possibility is to temporarily suspend United check airmen from certifying new captains, a process typically handled internally by airlines.
Sources familiar with the matter emphasize that discussions within the FAA may not lead to concrete action, meaning that some or all of the proposed measures may not be implemented. United Airlines has stated that it has not received official notification of a final decision from the FAA, indicating that internal deliberations within the FAA are still ongoing.
When approached for direct comment on its internal discussions, the FAA declined to provide specific details. Instead, the agency released a statement emphasizing that "the FAA's safety assurance system consistently monitors all aspects of an airline's operations, focusing on regulatory compliance, hazard identification, risk assessment, and safety management."
During an interview with NBC News, FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker confirmed that he had spoken with United CEO Scott Kirby over the weekend regarding recent incidents.
"I am aware that they are implementing additional measures and addressing these issues," Whitaker informed NBC News. "We will closely examine each of these incidents to identify any potential patterns...Both he and I are concerned; the recent surge in incidents is troubling. Therefore, we are diligently investigating where the underlying risks may lie."
In a letter addressed to employees on Friday, United's Vice President of Corporate Safety, Sasha Johnson, appeared to hint at imminent temporary actions being taken by the airline.
FAA to Increase Presence in United Airlines Operations
United Airlines will be facing increased scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the coming weeks as the agency reviews the airline's work processes, manuals, and facilities. This move by the FAA will also involve pausing certain certification activities for a period of time, with the specifics varying across different work groups.
In a letter to customers, United Airlines CEO Kirby emphasized the airline's commitment to safety and stated that the team is analyzing recent incidents to enhance safety training and procedures for all employees.
United Airlines, known for its aggressive growth plans, has orders for hundreds of new planes and has been expanding its international route network. Recent announcements include plans to launch service to Marrakesh, Morocco, Cebu, Philippines, and Medellin, Colombia. Additionally, the airline intends to increase flights to Hong Kong, Seoul, Porto, and Shanghai.
The decision to pause route expansion and introduce new aircraft could have a significant impact on United's financial performance, particularly with ongoing delivery delays from Boeing complicating the situation. However, specific details on when the pause will begin and which activities will be affected remain unclear at this time.
