According to United Airlines, a Boeing aircraft was found to have a missing external panel upon landing at Rogue Valley International Airport in Medford, Oregon, on Friday.
The incident involved United Flight 433, which originated from San Francisco and safely arrived at its destination with 139 passengers and 6 crew members onboard. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, as the missing panel went unnoticed during the flight.
The 25-year-old Boeing 737-800 was subject to a post-flight inspection at Rogue Valley International Medford Airport, where the absence of the external panel was discovered.
Amber Judd, a senior official at the airport, assured that a thorough examination and necessary repairs would be conducted before the aircraft returned to service. An investigation into the incident will also be carried out to determine the cause of the damage.
Images of the aircraft on social media indicated that the missing panel was located next to the landing gear, on the underside of the plane.
Although all outgoing and incoming flights were briefly halted at the airport to search for debris, none was found. The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine how the panel became detached.
This incident comes amid increased scrutiny on Boeing following a recent safety incident involving a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, which experienced a cabin door blowout shortly after takeoff in January.
The FAA has expressed concern over quality system issues at Boeing, emphasizing the need for further scrutiny and accountability. Testifying before US lawmakers in February, FAA head Mike Whitaker stated that Boeing would be held responsible for any failure to comply with safety regulations.
