SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A United Airlines flight departing from San Francisco International Airport encountered a startling situation on Friday when a missing external panel was noticed upon landing in Oregon, officials reported. The flight landed safely in Medford, Oregon, without the pilots being aware of the issue during the journey.
According to United Airlines, the missing panel was discovered only after the plane had safely touched down in Medford. The panel that was lost was identified as the wing-to-body fairing, located on the underside of the aircraft where the wing meets the body, adjacent to the landing gear.
With a total of 139 passengers and six crew members on board, the Boeing 737-800 plane is now set for a thorough examination, repairs, and investigation to determine the cause of the damage. Unlike other incidents involving United Airlines in recent weeks, where planes departing from San Francisco encountered problems, this one was detected post-landing.
United Airlines assures that they will conduct an in-depth investigation to understand the circumstances surrounding the missing panel incident. This occurrence adds to the series of recent incidents affecting United Airlines flights, including the alarming incident where a tire fell off a Boeing 777 during takeoff from San Francisco, resulting in the plane being diverted to Los Angeles International Airport for a safe landing.
As United Airlines addresses the missing panel incident in Medford, passengers and aviation authorities await further information on the situation and the measures being taken to prevent such incidents in the future. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story for the latest developments and insights.