The start of 2024 has brought a barrage of concerning headlines about commercial air travel.
It started when an Alaska Airlines 737 Boeing MAX 9 jet lost a door plug midair, leaving a gaping emergency exit-size hole in the fuselage and reigniting quality control concerns over the jet’s manufacturer that culminated in a major leadership shake-up at the plane-maker Monday.
Now, the Federal Aviation Administration is also heightening its attention on United Airlines following a string of recent maintenance incidents.
At the same time, top industry safety experts urge that, despite the recent turbulence, passengers should feel safe flying.
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FAA steps up United oversight
In recent days, the FAA informed United it would increase its oversight of the Chicago-based carrier “due to recent safety events.”
Over the last month, United aircraft have been involved in some high-profile incidents that, while concerning in…