Current:Home > MarketsUnited Airlines and commercial air travel are safe, aviation experts say -InvestTomorrow
United Airlines and commercial air travel are safe, aviation experts say
View
Date:2025-04-25 16:12:28
A recent string of inflight safety emergencies has thrust United Airlines into the spotlight, leading some travelers to worry that the airline, and even commercial air travel in general, has perhaps become less safe.
Last week, a United flight lost a rear tire during takeoff in San Francisco and made an emergency landing in Los Angeles, marking the airline's fourth mishap in one week. But aviation experts insist that air travel remains among the safest modes of transportation, and it's just coincidental that the safety incidents occurred in such close proximity to one another, and were concentrated at United.
For its part, United said the events were "distinct and unrelated to one another."
What happened?
The most recent incident, concerning United Flight 821 from San Francisco International Airport to Mexico City International Airport, was diverted to Los Angeles due to an issue with the aircraft's hydraulic system. The airline said the aircraft has three hydraulic systems for "redundancy purposes," and "preliminary information shows there was only an issue with one system on this aircraft." The aircraft made a safe landing and nobody was injured.
That incident came on the heels of another on United Flight 2477, departing from Memphis, Tennessee, which skidded off the runway into a grassy area after landing at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.
Previously, a Japan-bound United flight out of San Francisco lost one of its tires on takeoff — and made a safe emergency landing.
A United Airlines spokesperson said the aircraft had extra tires and is designed to land safely "with missing or damaged tires."
The first incident was even more of a fluke: A Florida-bound United flight's engine caught fire after it had sucked in littered bubble wrap.
Incidents aren't evenly spaced out
Given how many flights airlines operate every year and how technical aircraft operations are, some hitches are expected.
"We see these kinds of events happen, and not all of them were preventable from United's perspective," Mark Millam, director of technical programs at the Flight Safety Foundation, told CBS MoneyWatch.
"These incidents aren't enough to come to some determination on one airline's performance versus another's. There are not any clear signals that United has any different performance than another airline," Millam added.
The consecutive timing of the incidents is slightly unusual, he conceded.
"This doesn't usually happen this frequently within a one-week period, but United has grown in size so some of these events just don't come in a steady and regularly spaced interval," Millam said, who conceded nonetheless that it's not a good look for the airline.
"They don't want to lose the confidence of the people in the back," he said.
Fluke in timing
Airline industry analyst Kit Darby also chalked up the string of incidents happening back-to-back up to a fluke in timing.
"Overall, nothing stands out to me, other than a large coincidence," he told CBS MoneyWatch. "Looking at each separately, some of them are extremely rare, like losing the tire."
And even then, the aircraft has spares and is designed to function without one, meaning it's not a particularly threatening event, according to Darby.
"It's way too early to have any idea why it came off," he added.
Still the safest means of travel
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed consumer concerns around flying at a recent press conference. He said flight safety has improved, according to federal data, and added that "American aviation is the safest means of travel in the world."
And it's getting safer, according to International Air Transport Association's (IATA) 2023 safety report.
In 2023, there were no fatal accidents for jet aircraft, leading to a record-low fatality risk rate, according to the report. More specifically, a person would have to travel by air every day for 103,239 years to experience a fatal accident, based on statistics.
Megan CerulloMegan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News Streaming to discuss her reporting.
veryGood! (481)
Related
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Simone Biles Reveals Truth of Calf Injury at 2024 Paris Olympics
- Antonio Pierce handed eight-year show cause for Arizona State recruiting violations
- The Country’s Second-Largest Coal Plant May Get a Three-Year Reprieve From Retirement. Why?
- Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
- Manslaughter case in fatal police shooting outside Virginia mall goes to jury
- Helene’s powerful storm surge killed 12 near Tampa. They didn’t have to die
- 'The coroner had to pull them apart': Grandparents killed in Hurricane Helene found hugging in bed
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Lizzo Strips Down to Bodysuit in New Video After Unveiling Transformation
Ranking
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- Get 30 Rings for $8.99, Plus More Early Amazon Prime Day 2024 Jewelry Deals for 68% Off
- Virginia teacher who was fired over refusing to use student's preferred pronouns awarded $575,000
- Naomi Watts joined at New York Film Festival by her 'gigantic' dog co-star
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- Nibi the ‘diva’ beaver to stay at rescue center, Massachusetts governor decides
- Pregnant Brittany Mahomes Shows Off Her Workout Routine
- Halle Bailey and DDG Break Up Less Than a Year After Welcoming Baby Boy
Recommendation
Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
Senators ask Justice Department to take tougher action against Boeing executives over safety issues
On the road: Plenty of NBA teams mixing the grind of training camp with resort life
Melania Trump says she supports abortion rights, putting her at odds with the GOP
Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
Uncover the Best Lululemon Finds: $49 Lululemon Align Leggings Instead of $98, $29 Belt Bags & More
Saoirse Ronan made a life for herself. Now, she's 'ready to be out there again.'
Did You Realize Kristen Bell and Adam Brody’s Gossip Girl Connection?