A United Airlines flight heading to San Francisco had to make an unexpected landing at Sydney Airport in Australia after just two hours into the 14-hour journey due to a maintenance issue. The Boeing 777-300 aircraft was carrying 183 passengers and crew, who were all safely escorted off the plane upon landing. United Airlines provided accommodation for the passengers overnight and rebooked them on alternative flights to their destination.
This incident marks the fifth flight-related incident for United Airlines within a mere seven days, adding to a recent series of troubles for the US airline. Previous incidents included an engine catching fire midair and a flight losing a tire after takeoff. In a separate incident, a United Airlines aircraft skidded off a runway into a grassy area, further highlighting safety concerns for the airline. These events come amid heightened scrutiny on US aircraft manufacturer Boeing, which is facing scrutiny for a series of quality and safety issues that have raised concerns within the aviation industry.