Boeing 737 loses fuselage panel mid‑flight; joins string of Boeing issues
During a flight of a Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by United Airlines, an unusual incident occurred when one of the fuselage panels became detached. This issue was only discovered after the plane had safely landed at Medford, Oregon.
The aircraft, carrying 145 individuals - 139 passengers and six crew members, had departed from San Francisco heading towards Rogue Valley International Medford Airport in Oregon.
The missing fuselage panel was only noticed during a standard technical inspection after the flight had concluded. Interestingly, this aircraft has been in service since 1998.
United Airlines made a statement to NBC, saying, "We will conduct a thorough examination of the aircraft and carry out all necessary repairs before it returns to service".
The airline has also stated that an investigation will be carried out to uncover the cause of the damage. This incident is under investigation by not only United Airlines but also by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Another incident involving Boeing
This occurrence is part of a series of recent incidents involving Boeing aircraft. Last week, a Boeing 737 MAX slid off the runway at George Bush Airport in Houston.
According to Reuters, following an incident on 5th January, where a panel that replaced the emergency exit door on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 operated by Alaska Airlines came off during a flight, the company based in Seattle is now undergoing detailed inspections. Investigations are being conducted into safety standards and the quality of Boeing's aircraft manufacturing process.
