United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby speaks in Chicago, June 5, 2019.
Kamil Krzaczyński | Reuters
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby on Monday sought to reassure customers of the carrier’s safety after a series of flight problems in recent weeks.
In one case this month a the tire fell off from one of the carriers heading to Japan Boeing 777 planes damage cars in a San Francisco airport car parking zone shortly after takeoff. In one other incident, a missing panel of the plane was discovered after an older Boeing 737 landed in Oregon on Friday.
“Safety is our highest priority and is at the heart of everything we do,” Kirby said in an email to customers. “Unfortunately, our airline has experienced a number of incidents over the last few weeks that have reminded us how important safety is.”
Kirby said the incidents being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration are “not related,” however the team is verifying details “and using those observations to inform our safety training and procedures across all employee groups.”
A series of recent mishaps come amid heightened scrutiny of the airline industry after a door plug panel exploded Alaska Airlines“almost new Boeing 737 Max 9 on January 5.
United Airlines plane.
Source: NBC Houston KPRC2+
On March 8, a United 737 Max rolled off the runway in Houston. On March 4, a United Boeing 737 flying from Houston to Florida returned to the airport after the engine swallowed plastic bubble wrap, and a video appeared on social media showing flames coming from the engine.
United’s CEO said the airline was already planning to implement changes such as “an additional day of in-person training for all pilots beginning in May and a centralized training program for newly hired maintenance technicians.”
“You can rest assured that every time a United flight departs from the gate, everyone on our team works together to keep you safe during your journey,” Kirby wrote.
