FAA Concludes Review of United Airlines, Finds No Major Safety Issues
On Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that its investigation into United Airlines concluded without discovering any major safety concerns.
“The FAA has completed its Certificate Holder Evaluation Program (CHEP) for United Airlines, and the review found no significant safety issues,” the agency stated.
Since spring, United Airlines has been under heightened scrutiny due to several safety incidents, including a rudder malfunction in February, which led to urgent recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board last week. Another notable incident involved a plane that lost a tire during takeoff in Los Angeles, which also damaged vehicles in a nearby parking lot.
Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, addressed these incidents in a letter sent out in March. Additionally, the airline’s vice president for corporate safety informed employees via a memo about the FAA’s “increased presence” in the company’s operations just days later.
During the FAA’s investigation, the airline may have faced restrictions like not being able to introduce new aircraft or routes. However, the FAA announced on Wednesday that it would be lifting this enhanced oversight and approval process.