The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating two incidents involving United Airlines flights. In one incident, a plane lost a tire during takeoff at San Francisco International Airport. Fortunately, although the tire caused damage to several cars in the employee parking lot, no injuries were reported, and the flight was able to land safely.
In a separate incident, a United Airlines 737 Max 8 aircraft rolled off the runway and into the grass after landing in Houston. Again, no injuries were reported in this incident.
Furthermore, Boeing is facing scrutiny after an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 experienced a door plug blowout two months ago. Boeing has admitted to potential undocumented work that led to the incident. The FAA may impose punitive measures against Boeing for violating aviation regulations, including fines of up to $25,000 per passenger affected by safety violations.
The FAA conducted a six-week audit of Boeing's production practices following the door plug blowout incident. The audit revealed noncompliance issues in manufacturing processes, parts handling, and product control. Additionally, a report highlighted gaps in Boeing's safety culture, with employees reportedly hesitant to report safety concerns to management.
Addressing the need for a robust safety culture, the FAA mandates whistleblower channels for employees to report safety issues anonymously to senior executives. Boeing has made management changes to improve its safety practices, including appointing new leadership to enhance communication with employees.
Shifting focus to the aviation mystery of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which marked its 10th anniversary, Ocean Infinity, a technology company, has proposed a new search mission to the Malaysian government. Utilizing undisclosed advanced technology, Ocean Infinity aims to locate the missing aircraft without charging any fees unless successful, offering hope to the families of the passengers and crew who disappeared on the ill-fated flight.
