By CLAIRE RUSH and LISA BAUMANN (Associated Press)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Officials said that a post-flight check revealed a missing panel on an older Boeing 737-800, which had just arrived in southern Oregon from San Francisco on Friday. This is the latest in a string of recent incidents involving planes built by the company.
United Flight 433 departed from San Francisco at 10:20 a.m. and landed at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Medford shortly before noon, according to FlightAware. Amber Judd, the airport’s director, stated that the plane landed safely without any problems and the missing external panel was discovered during a post-flight inspection. No injuries were reported.
Judd mentioned that the airport halted operations to examine the runway and airfield for debris but found none.
Judd believed that the missing panel was noticed by the United ground crew or pilots during a routine inspection before the next flight.
A United Airlines representative stated via email that the flight had 139 passengers and six crew members. They also clarified that no emergency was declared as there were no signs of damage during the flight.
“Once the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered that an external panel was missing,” the United spokesperson stated. “We will conduct a thorough assessment of the plane and make all necessary repairs before it goes back into service. We will also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred.”
The Federal Aviation Administration also said it would investigate.
The missing panel was located on the underside of the aircraft, near the wing-body junction and next to the landing gear, according to United.
The plane made its first flight in April 1998 and was received by Continental Airlines in December of that year, according to the FAA. United Airlines has operated it since November 30, 2011. It is a 737-824, part of the 737-800 series that preceded the Max.
Boeing mentioned, also via email, that it would defer comment to United regarding the carrier’s fleet and operations.
In January, a panel covering an extra emergency door blew off a Boeing Max 9 jet in midair just minutes after an Alaska Airlines flight took off from Portland, resulting in a large hole and forcing pilots to make an emergency landing. There were no serious injuries.
The door plug was eventually discovered in the backyard of a high school physics teacher in southwest Portland, along with other debris from the flight scattered nearby. The Department of Justice has initiated a criminal investigation.
On March 6, fumes detected in the cabin of a Boeing 737-800 Alaska Airlines flight bound for Phoenix caused the pilots to return to Portland airport.
The Port of Portland stated that passengers and crew noticed the fumes and the flight landed safely. Seven individuals, including passengers and crew, requested medical assessments, but no one was hospitalized, officials said.
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Baumann reported from Bellingham, Washington.
