A United Airlines flight bound for Denver returned to Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut, on Thursday after a piece of the engine’s sound-dampening outer liner fell off during takeoff. The crew of the Airbus A320 heard an “abnormal noise” shortly after departure and decided to turn back, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The airline said that the missing portion of the liner was found on the runway, and there were no reported injuries among the 124 passengers and five crew members on board. The FAA announced that it would investigate the incident.
This event follows a series of mishaps involving United Airlines earlier this year, which prompted the FAA to tighten its oversight of the carrier. These incidents included a piece of fuselage falling off a plane, a wheel coming loose during takeoff, an engine fire, and other problems. CEO Scott Kirby assured travelers that the incidents were unrelated and that the airline is safe, but he also mentioned that United would review its safety training for employees.
The aircraft involved in the latest incident is 22 years old. While the cause is not yet known, issues with older planes are often isolated and not indicative of systemic problems or manufacturing defects. According to a recording of conversations between the airport control tower and the plane, the aircraft lost several pieces of sheet metal during takeoff, which were recovered from the runway, and additional debris fell off upon landing.
A nearby JetBlue Airways pilot initially reported the debris to the tower, causing some planes to be diverted to other runways. The United pilot informed the tower that one of the engines was slightly exceeding normal exhaust gas temperatures, and he was concerned they had hit a bird or blown a tire during takeoff. The pilot declared an emergency but noted that “Everything is running fine, the engine is within parameters.”
The ongoing FAA review has limited United’s certification activities, effectively restricting the carrier’s growth. However, United stated last month that it could begin the process of adding new planes and routes again. CEO Scott Kirby has said that the airline is “embracing” the FAA evaluation as an opportunity to improve its already high level of safety.
(With inputs from agencies)
The airline said that the missing portion of the liner was found on the runway, and there were no reported injuries among the 124 passengers and five crew members on board. The FAA announced that it would investigate the incident.
This event follows a series of mishaps involving United Airlines earlier this year, which prompted the FAA to tighten its oversight of the carrier. These incidents included a piece of fuselage falling off a plane, a wheel coming loose during takeoff, an engine fire, and other problems. CEO Scott Kirby assured travelers that the incidents were unrelated and that the airline is safe, but he also mentioned that United would review its safety training for employees.
The aircraft involved in the latest incident is 22 years old. While the cause is not yet known, issues with older planes are often isolated and not indicative of systemic problems or manufacturing defects. According to a recording of conversations between the airport control tower and the plane, the aircraft lost several pieces of sheet metal during takeoff, which were recovered from the runway, and additional debris fell off upon landing.
A nearby JetBlue Airways pilot initially reported the debris to the tower, causing some planes to be diverted to other runways. The United pilot informed the tower that one of the engines was slightly exceeding normal exhaust gas temperatures, and he was concerned they had hit a bird or blown a tire during takeoff. The pilot declared an emergency but noted that “Everything is running fine, the engine is within parameters.”
The ongoing FAA review has limited United’s certification activities, effectively restricting the carrier’s growth. However, United stated last month that it could begin the process of adding new planes and routes again. CEO Scott Kirby has said that the airline is “embracing” the FAA evaluation as an opportunity to improve its already high level of safety.
(With inputs from agencies)