Posted on 02/20/2024 9:54:44 AM PST by V_TWIN
A flight from San Francisco bound for Boston had to make an emergency landing in Denver after the plane’s wing started “coming apart” mid-flight.
Kevin Clarke was among the 165 passengers on board United Flight 354 en route to Boston on Monday when it had to be diverted to Denver. He recorded the unplanned stop, saying “Just about to land in Denver with the wing coming apart on the plane,” our sister station WFXT reported.
Clarke told WFXT, he saw bird strike forms while boarding the flight.
“I’m like bird strike? That’s not good. We take off, I heard this loud buzzing noise, and then it faded away so I didn’t think much of it and all of a sudden the pilot is coming back, so I threw my window open, peeked out the window and the whole leading edge of the wing was destroyed.”
Clarke said the pilot took photos of the damage and talked to ground crew before diverting to Denver.
United confirmed that the plane had a problem with a wing slat.
KMGH reported that the Federal Aviation Administration released a statement to ABC News saying, “United Airlines Flight 354 landed safely at Denver International Airport around 5:15 p.m. local time on Monday, February 19, after the crew reported a possible flap issue. The Boeing 757 departed San Francisco International Airport and was headed to Boston Logan International Airport. The FAA will investigate.”
The passengers transferred to an awaiting plane and got to Boston about three hours after the planned landing.
(Excerpt) Read more at actionnewsjax.com ...
I prefer it when this doesn’t happen.
i havent been on a plane in years. I dont understand how he threw his window open?
I think he meant he opened the shade.
Yeah, something definitely damaged that wing.
Tis but a scratch.
LOL..yeah..that didn’t dawn on me. I am still amazed that the airplane that had the door blow out didnt have passengers fly out like in the movies. One guy unbuckled himself and jumped into another seat without being forced out..although he did lose his shirt.
bird strike...???...
See “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”
I would guess that over the past 40 years, birds cause more damage to airplanes in the air than anything else, particularly when they hit the engines.
“bird strike...???...”
Certainly coulda been a birdstrike. It is the leading edge flap that’s damaged and if you look at the leading edge of the wing itself there appears to be a couple of small deformation immediately above the flap.
I’m sure he’s referring to the window shade
I call BS on that.
And that isn't by any stretch "the whole leading edge of the wing".
Not optimal, but the only effect would be a small bias on the roll axis when the flaps are down.
Fatigue failure? Improper assembly? Can't know until after the inquest.
Leading edge slat. Not desirable, and also not the end of the world.
“Clarke told WFXT, he saw bird strike forms while boarding the flight.”
Damn dude, you didn’t think you might wanna let the crew know what you saw BEFORE takeoff???
SMH
One of those diversity hires missed the obvious...
“United confirmed that the plane had a problem with a wing slat.”
Yep. That would definitely qualify as a problem. Glad they landed OK.
“I am still amazed that the airplane that had the door blow out didnt have passengers fly out”
Because it was at low altitude. And once pressure equalizes there is no suction force.
Wow, I would have loved to have seen all those passengers landing safely. That would have been a sight. Wonder if they landed in formation or in a line.
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