United Flight from San Francisco Makes Emergency Landing After Wing Damage Spotted Mid-Air

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Boston diverted to Denver due to wing damage spotted by passengers, causing a 3.5-hour delay. FAA investigates the incident.

On a flight from San Francisco to Boston last Monday, January 19th, an unexpected detour to Denver was necessitated when passengers noticed damage to parts of the aircraft’s wing. This incident was initially brought to light by WHDH 7 News in Boston on the following day. In an interview with the Associated Press, Kevin Clarke, a 67-year-old ski announcer from Maine who was traveling on this United Airlines flight, shared that the decision to reroute the plane to Denver was made after a pilot inspected the aisle of the aircraft.

Clarke was able to record a video of the wing’s damage, which featured a chipped section with a dark blue tip. This footage has since circulated widely across various social media channels, including X, capturing the moment the aircraft with its compromised wing landed on a runway.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed to the AP that they are conducting an investigation into the matter.

The damage, specifically to the slat on the aircraft’s right wing, was noted. The JACDEC, a website dedicated to aviation safety information, reported that this right inner slat experienced partial disintegration while the plane was flying at approximately 31,000 feet (9.45 kilometers).

The original flight was completed by a substitute aircraft due to the detour, resulting in a delay of around 3.5 hours.

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