Passengers Support Interior Panels as United Flight Lands at EWR
Jeff Edwards June 01, 2016
No injuries were reported after ceiling panels fell onto passengers aboard a United Airlines flight that eventually landed safely at Newark Airport following an aborted landing attempt on Tuesday.
Passengers on a flight from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) faced some unexpected excitement after interior panels started to fall from the plane’s ceiling following an aborted landing attempt. According to The Daily Mail, the flight was able to land safely without incident or any serious injuries reported following a second landing attempt.
Some passengers onboard the flight supported the lightweight panels above their heads as the plane touched down. Cellphone video of the unorthodox landing shows a cabin with exposed insulation and wiring normally concealed by the ceiling panels. Several of the interior pieces reportedly started to fall from the plane’s ceiling following an aborted “rough” landing attempt. In some cases, the interior panels detached completely, falling onto passengers. Other panels remained partially attached, leaving passengers to hold the pieces in place until the plane landed about 30 minutes later.
Eyewitnesses told New York NBC affiliate WNBC that “the plane came down and skipped on the runway, so the pilot lifted it back into the air. The pilot then tried to land again but the plane came down even harder and rebounded several times before it took off again.”
“The pilot jerked the plane up to cancel the landing entirely,” a passenger on the flight recounted. “One of the panels fell right next to my seat-mate and I.”
A United Airlines spokesperson told reporters that none of the 216 passengers onboard the Boeing 767 were hurt as a result of the aborted rocky landing or from being hit by falling debris. According to the airline, the aircraft was pulled from service for maintenance following the plane’s arrival at EWR.
[Photo: WABC]
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I feel sorry for pax from, say, Mexico, China, The Philippines that get stuck flying domestic US routes on US carriers' fleets. What a disappointment.
I note the attempt to excuse this event away by claiming that it happens at other airlines and isn't reported. Unfortunately, that is misinformation. If it happened at other airlines such as Delta, JetBlue, Air Canada, West Jet, British AIrways, Lufthansa, Iberia, Air France and many many others, we would know all about it. United has a poor reputation for upkeep, cleanliness, service, product etc. because it earned it. United makes airlines in the developing world seem safe in comparison.
Pilot error or a mechanical issue is where the blame lies. Why does this story not talk about the cause instead of the effect? Not one but two aborted landings where no others occurred is highly unusual and suspect.
Well if their planes had been built by someone other than the Wright Brothers, they might still be in one piece.
@sammy7: You mean the subsidies the US3 airlines get from the US Federal & State governments in the form of tax incentives & tax breaks?