United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has publicly committed to prioritizing safety in response to recent unsettling events involving the airline. In an assuring statement to customers, Kirby conveyed his pride in the safety culture United has nurtured among its workforce and passengers. The statement comes amidst several incidents that have raised concerns about the airline’s operational safety.
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While speaking with PEOPLE magazine on Monday, Kirby emphasized, “Safety is our highest priority and is at the center of everything we do.” He acknowledged the incidents, stressing their unrelated nature but affirming their significance in reinforcing the airline’s commitment to safety. According to Kirby, these events have captured the airline’s attention and intensified its focus on safety measures: “Unfortunately, in the past few weeks, our airline has experienced a number of incidents that are reminders of the importance of safety. While they are all unrelated, I want you to know that these incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus.”
Recently, the airline has faced an alarming frequency of incidents, including five in a week, some of which necessitated emergency evacuations of passengers and crew. Kirby revealed that in light of these recent challenges, the airline was already adopting new safety protocols, which will be introduced shortly. “Our team is diligently reviewing each incident to pinpoint what went wrong and to integrate those learnings into our safety training and procedures for all staff categories,” he explained. This includes a scheduled enhancement of pilot training with an additional day of in-person instruction beginning in May and establishing a unified training curriculum for new maintenance technicians. Moreover, United Airlines plans to augment its management of supplier networks.
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Kirby also highlighted the airline’s culture of openness, where employees are motivated to voice concerns if they notice potential safety issues. This proactive approach to safety extends to the confidence imparted to passengers, ensuring them of a secure journey once the aircraft departs from the gate.
A recent incident that drew public attention involved United Flight 433, which completed a flight from San Francisco International Airport to Medford, Oregon, despite missing part of its external paneling. Thankfully, the Boeing 737-800 landed safely, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was set to investigate the incident further. United Airlines confirmed no emergency was declared during the flight, as the damage was not detected en route.
This particular episode was among the multiple incidents that occurred in a week, spotlighting the airline. Other notable occurrences included the diversion of United Airlines Flight 830 back to Sydney due to a maintenance issue and a situation where a tire detached from an aircraft en route to Osaka, Japan. Additionally, United Airlines Flight 1118 experienced an engine fire on March 4.
In his statement, Kirby’s reassurance aims to restore faith in United Airlines’ commitment to safety, emphasizing the airline’s rigorous approach to addressing and learning from recent events.