On March 15, 2024, an external panel of a Boeing 737-800 operated by United Airlines went missing during a flight from San Francisco, California, to Medford, Oregon. Despite the missing panel, the plane safely landed at Rogue Valley International Medford Airport in Jackson County, Oregon. However, the panel was nowhere to be found after the post-landing inspection.
The plane, which was built in late 1988 and has been in service with United Airlines since November 30, 2011, had 139 passengers and six crew members on board during the flight. Fortunately, no emergency was declared during the flight as there was no indication of any damage.
United Airlines stated that they will conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all necessary repairs before returning it to service. The airline also mentioned that it will investigate the incident to understand how the damage occurred.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also looking into the incident. This incident comes after a recent spate of incidents involving Boeing aircraft, including a Boeing 737 Max 9’s fuselage panel blowing off mid-air during an Alaska Airlines flight and a tyre on the nose wheel of a Boeing 757 aircraft coming loose and falling off just as the plane was preparing to take off on a Delta Airlines flight.
Boeing declined to comment on the incident and directed queries to United Airlines. Traffic was briefly halted at the airport to search for the missing panel, but it was not found. The airlines involved in the incidents are investigating the causes and taking necessary measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The missing panel did not cause any injuries or accidents, but it raises concerns about the safety of Boeing aircraft. The FAA is investigating the matter to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members. It is essential for Boeing and the airlines to take necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future and maintain the trust and safety of their passengers.