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 ...
Look to the illegal immigrants sneaking into our country across the leaking northern and southern borders, the "NGO's" run by the UN and NATO trafficking them, and the traitors in the federal and state governments enabling them. Supply yourself in preparation for the fall, and steel yourself for the stand you will be forced to take when the full-blown SHTF...
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I was at lunch!>...............
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anything from a gripesheet to FAA requirements...
Piss poor composit wing slats— don’t work well if shredded or shredding.
Looks like some kind of foam interior. Carbon fiber throughout seems would be much better for repeat flight usage.
Vibration vs. Composite Material
11/04/2019
Infused CMF better than aluminum as leading-edge wing material
https://www.materialstoday.com/composites/news/infused-cmf-leadingedge-wing-material/
I quit flying commercial and private, in July 1996, when TWA 800 was shot down. If I can’t get there by driving, I don’t need to go there...
You are forgiven 🙏
Funny how aircraft damage is always a lot more critical when your actually ON it. 😏
Too bad the pilot wasn’t as cool as the keyboard airmen are. He was actually concerned enough to send photos to engineering for their advice.
Geese.
Three in formation.
Not anymore.
Amazing what ~10lb birds will do to lightweight metal and composite structures at a delta-V of ~500 knots.
Not good at all, but minor damage that would not result in a crash.
he saw bird strike forms while boarding the flight.
bird strike while boarding?
LOL.
My first read was a passenger landed the plane.
Ted Stryker?
“keyboard airmen”
Yep,there are a few of those on this forum.
37 years of aviation manufacturing and rework taught me that there is acceptable wear and damage and then there’s the unacceptable kind....this falls into the latter I do believe.....after all, there was a reason they diverted to Denver instead of making the whole trip.
I’d like to have been privy that convo between the air crew and engineering.....I’m sure it was interesting.
Funny how aircraft damage is always a lot less critical when your not actually on it. 😏
“the whole leading edge of the wing was destroyed.”
No. No it wasn’t.
Those are tested to take well more abuse than that. In fact they are part of the sacrificial system to protect the fuel tanks. They have what is called a “bird splitter” that acts like a crumple zone in a car. Not sure what it is but certainly disconcerting.
(former aircraft industry)
The Black Knight of planes or maybe airlines. :)
That’s never good! 😮
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