zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Beyond Cars
/
United Airlines Allegedly Skipped Pre-Flight Fire System Checks on More Than 100,000 Flights
United Airlines Allegedly Skipped Pre-Flight Fire System Checks on More Than 100,000 Flights-March 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:13:50

A Boeing 777-300ER of the U.S. airline United Airlines flies over F'rth after takeoff at Nuremberg Airport.

is facing a possible fine of about $1.15 million from the because it was flying s that the deemed not in airworthy condition between June of 2018 and April of 2021.

The planes hadn’t undergone certain safety checks having to do with the fire system safety warning, the FAA alleges. says United called the check “redundant” because of other onboard systems. United reportedly operated over 100,000 Boeing 777 flights during this time. United decided to skip the step despite the fact it is required in the plane’s Maintenance Specifications manual, and because of it, the airline is facing a $1,149,306 civil penalty.

“Removal of the check resulted in United’s failure to perform the required check and the operation of aircraft that did not meet airworthiness requirements,” the FAA said in a .

In 2018, United reportedly changed its pre-flight checklist “to account for redundant built-in checks performed automatically by the 777.” The airline goes so far as to say that the FAA reviewed and approved of the changes at the time.

“The safety of our flights was never in question,” United told . United said it will be reviewing the proposed penalty and will “respond accordingly.”

“The fire test on a jetliner, like the 777, is really comprehensive,” John Nance, an ABC News contributor and former commercial pilot, told the outlet. “It’s just testing for all the circuitry to make sure that everything is working right. The airplane actually does this itself, but it has been traditional for pilots to follow up and do a test.”

According to the FAA, United has 30 days to respond to the agency’s enforcement letter that went out on February 6.

Jalopnik has reached out to United Airlines for a statement on the matter, and we will update this story when and if we get one.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Beyond Cars
Here's Exactly How Congress Wants To Measure The A-10 Warthog's Replacement
Here's Exactly How Congress Wants To Measure The A-10 Warthog's Replacement
America’s ancient but venerable flying tank, , is on the budgetary chopping block. Congress is , and has laid out exactly what they want to see out of any potential replacement jet. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 () proposed by House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Chairman...
Mar 20, 2026
This Awesome Video Shows Off The Scale Of The U.S. Military's Arsenal
This Awesome Video Shows Off The Scale Of The U.S. Military's Arsenal
Want to see some of America’s weapons arsenal all lined up from smallest to largest? Watch this cool two-minute clip, which covers everything from a 1.25-inch bullet to 1000-plus foot aircraft carriers. YouTuber put this “US Army Size Comparison” two-minute video together to give perspective on the size of America’s...
Mar 20, 2026
What No One Tells You About Commuting On A Motorcycle
What No One Tells You About Commuting On A Motorcycle
When I left the world of writing about cars and bikes and tech in the back of a garage in my boxers, one thing was clear: commuting was happening. And if I was going to endure that soul-sucking drudgery again, I would do it on two wheels. So after 9,000...
Mar 20, 2026
Listen To The Swedish Army Band Absolutely Crush ABBA's 'Dancing Queen'
Listen To The Swedish Army Band Absolutely Crush ABBA's 'Dancing Queen'
Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf celebrated his 70th birthday on April 30, 2016 with a big royal party in Stockholm featuring an awesome choreographed rendition of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” by a Swedish army band. Looks like a groovy time. As the recounted the ceremony’s proceedings: After a service in the...
Mar 20, 2026
The A-10 Warthog May Be Kept Out Of Retirement By Law
The A-10 Warthog May Be Kept Out Of Retirement By Law
The U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II AKA “Warthog” has become one of the most-recognized and beloved warplanes since it started flying in the 1970s. We’ve been hearing about its —and the reason many in the armed services community are against that—for ages, but proposed legislation could keep it in...
Mar 20, 2026
This Company Wants To Make 'Kit' Motorcycles You Assemble At Home
This Company Wants To Make 'Kit' Motorcycles You Assemble At Home
You’ve heard of “kit cars,” right? Buy them in pieces, on purpose, for the joy of assembling and subsequent satisfaction of driving something wrought from your own hands. Moto8ight wants to do the same, but with motorcycles. And they say their kit could go from boxes to roadworthy in about...
Mar 20, 2026
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved