The flight, carrying a full load of 270 passengers, touched down safely. However, concerns are mounting over the recent surge in aviation incidents.
A United Airlines flight departing from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, en route to Rome, had to make an unexpected turn back after experiencing a rapid descent of several thousand feet while in midair.
Flight data from the airline tracking site FlightAware reveals that the plane took off from Newark at 09:20 p.m. EDT on Wednesday. Between 10:07 p.m. and 10:17 p.m., the aircraft plummeted from 37,000 to 8,875 feet, a staggering drop of 28,125 feet in just about 10 minutes. By 12:27 a.m., it had safely returned to Newark airport. A spokesperson for United Airlines informed Fox News that the flight had returned “to address a possible loss of cabin pressure.” They emphasized that “the flight landed safely, and there was never any loss of cabin pressure.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesperson also confirmed that the plane had to return due to a “pressurization issue.”
The aircraft, carrying 270 passengers and 14 crew members, was originally bound for Rome–Fiumicino International Airport. After landing, the passengers were rerouted to Rome on another flight.
Typically, pilots initiate a rapid descent to lower altitudes if there are concerns about the plane’s pressurization.
At heights of 37,000 feet, temperatures plummet to -60 degrees Celsius (-76 degrees Fahrenheit), making it difficult for people to breathe due to thin air. To ensure normal breathing, planes are equipped with pressurization systems.
During takeoff, onboard computers regulate the cabin’s air intake to maintain optimal equilibrium.
If the pressurization system malfunctions, pilots must perform an emergency descent, rapidly lowering the altitude until it is safe for passengers to breathe normally.
An American Airlines plane lands on a runway near a parked JetBlue plane at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on July 16, 2020. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Last month, an American Airlines flight from North Carolina to Florida descended nearly 15,000 feet in just three minutes due to pressurization concerns. Within seven minutes, the plane dropped from 30,000 feet to slightly over 10,000 feet.
Recent times have seen a rise in airline issues. United Airlines had to briefly ground multiple flights and halt departures nationwide due to a glitch caused by a software update, resulting in significant delays for over 350 flights on September 5, accounting for 13 percent of the day’s schedule.
The flight disruptions prompted Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to declare that his department “will ensure UA (United Airlines) fulfills its obligations to affected passengers.”
Putting Aviation Safety in the Spotlight
The sudden descent of the United Airlines flight coincides with GOP lawmakers scrutinizing Pete Buttigieg following a series of aviation safety incidents. In a letter to the Transportation Secretary on September 5, the lawmakers requested information regarding “a series of aviation and rail safety failures” that have occurred nationwide.
One of the incidents mentioned in the letter involved a plane descending within 800 feet of the Pacific Ocean in December shortly after taking off from Maui, Hawaii.
“According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data, there were 1,730 runway incursions in 2022, and as of July 24, 2023, there have already been 1,539 this year,” the letter stated.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg participates in a SiriusXM and GU Politics Townhall event, hosted by Julie Mason of SiriusXM and Mo Elleithee of GU Politics, on infrastructure at Georgetown University in Washington on Oct. 11, 2022. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
“Since President Biden took office, the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST) has received over 86 new unresolved recommendations. The OIG (Office of the Inspector General) defines a recommendation as ’unresolved’ if ‘agency management disagrees with the recommendation or the OIG disagrees with the agency’s proposed corrective actions,'” the letter continued.
“Based on the OIG’s list of long overdue and unresolved recommendations, it appears that DOT’s leadership is not prioritizing the safety of Americans in air, land, and sea,” the letter concluded.
In January, the FAA briefly halted all U.S. flight departures due to a failure in the system used to alert pilots about safety hazards. The FAA attributed the incident to a contractor who accidentally deleted certain files while synchronizing the alert system and its backup.
In a recent interview with Fox News, Capt. Dennis Tajer, communications chair and spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, the labor union representing American Airlines pilots, expressed concerns about the immense pressure on America’s air travel system.
He noted that the industry is now seeing an influx of “less experienced” and “less seasoned” individuals, while airline management teams are under pressure to maximize flight operations.
Are the recent aviation incidents indicative of widespread issues in aviation safety protocols and regulations?
E style=”width:500px” class=”alignnone”>In this file photo, a United Airlines plane lands at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, on July 8, 2019. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
These incidents have prompted lawmakers to demand answers regarding aviation safety measures and potential failures within the Transportation Department.
With more and more aviation incidents making headlines, concerns are mounting about the overall safety of air travel. Passengers and industry experts alike are questioning whether these incidents are isolated incidents or indications of broader issues in aviation safety protocols and regulations.
While it is essential to remember that air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation, it is crucial for aviation authorities to thoroughly investigate and address these incidents to maintain public confidence in the industry.
Despite the recent incidents and concerns raised, the Federal Aviation Administration continues to emphasize its commitment to aviation safety and the implementation of stringent safety measures.
As investigations into the United Airlines flight incident continue, results and findings are expected to shed light on the root cause of the pressurization issue and provide insights into any
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