The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has announced an increase in its powers of oversight over United Airlines due to heightened safety concerns in recent weeks. After the FAA’s re-evaluation of the carrier was announced, United’s share price dropped by 6%.
Engine fires, falling parts, and runaway planes
The FAA’s decision to undertake a formal assessment of the airline’s safety compliance comes after a number of recent lapses in safety norms. The FAA was already looking into the case of a United Airlines plane that landed in Oregon missing an external panel on 15 March.
Just a week earlier another United flight involving a Boeing 737 MAX carrying 166 people overran the runway on landing at George Bush Intercontinental airport in Houston. All passengers and crew deplaned safely using steps.
Elsewhere, another United flight, this time operated on a Boeing 737-900 from Texas to Florida, experienced an engine fire about 20 minutes in and had to turn around and make an…