On March 15, 2024, a Boeing 737-8000 flight completed a safe landing in Medford, Oregon despite the loss of an entire body panel during the flight, as reported by NBC News. This incident marks another notable setback for the company’s aircraft, although fortunately, there were no injuries.
Initial reports indicate that there were no apparent issues with the aircraft while airborne, thus the pilots did not declare an emergency. It was only during a post-flight inspection upon arrival in southern Oregon from San Francisco that the missing panel was discovered, as stated by the AP.
A spokesperson from United Airlines commented, stating, “After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel.” The airline affirmed plans for a comprehensive examination and necessary repairs before the aircraft resumes service, along with an investigation to determine the cause of the damage.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation into the incident to ascertain further details.
The absent body panel was situated on the underside of the aircraft, adjacent to the landing gear—a component that has encountered malfunctions in previous Boeing aircraft incidents.
The whereabouts of the missing body panel remains unknown at present.
In a separate occurrence in January, a Boeing Max 9 jet experienced the loss of an emergency exit door shortly after takeoff during an Alaska Airlines flight. While no injuries were reported, pilots executed an emergency landing, and subsequent investigations revealed missing door plugs.
Following these events, FAA inquiries uncovered 33 instances of safety check failures in Boeing 737 Max production. The investigation process has been hindered by Boeing’s security camera system, which automatically deletes footage after 30 days, complicating efforts to identify root causes of the failures.
Also read: Boeing Safety Advisory: LATAM Flight Incident Investigation
