United Airlines is under increased scrutiny for its safety performance after a Boeing 757-200 lost a wheel from its main landing gear during takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport. This incident is the latest in a series of events that have drawn negative attention to the carrier, particularly from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The aircraft, registered as N14107, was operating flight UA1001 on July 8th with 174 passengers and seven crew members on board. It landed safely in Denver. According to Cirium fleets data, the plane is nearly 30 years old.
The Chicago-based airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This incident is reminiscent of one on March 7th, when a wheel fell off a United 777-200 departing from San Francisco International Airport en route to Japan. The tyre landed in an employee parking lot, damaging several cars but causing no injuries. The aircraft diverted to Los Angeles, where it landed safely. That same month, another 777, traveling from Sydney to San Francisco, made an emergency landing due to a mid-air hydraulic leak.
These incidents are part of a series of recent events that have led the FAA to increase safety oversight of United Airlines. Other incidents include a 737 Max 8 running off a taxiway in Houston and a 737-800 landing in Medford, Oregon, with a missing external panel.
Despite no reported injuries from these mishaps, the FAA has temporarily paused United’s certification activities, preventing the airline from adding new aircraft and routes. This heightened scrutiny comes amid heightened awareness from regulators, lawmakers, and the flying public following the January 5th door-plug blow-out on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9.
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