United Forced to Cancel Some Flights After Not Performing Inspections

Image: United Boeing 777 (photo via Greg Goebel/Flickr)
Image: United Boeing 777 (photo via Greg Goebel/Flickr)
Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 12:33 PM ET, Wed September 21, 2022

United Airlines this week was forced to cancel 25 flights utilizing Boeing 777-200 equipment after the carrier failed to perform maintenance on the aircrafts.

United self-reported the issue to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), admitting it did not subject the planes to the required maintenance of the wing leading-edge panel, according to Reuters News Service.

"We've completed inspections on 10 of those aircraft and are working with the FAA to return others to service while inspections are ongoing over the next two weeks," United said Tuesday in a statement to Reuters.

The FAA said it was "looking into the circumstances that led to the missed inspections."

The Boeing 777-200 has had issues going back to early last year. In February of 2021, United grounded all 52 of the Boeing 777 airplanes powered by Pratt & Whitney Series 4000 engines in its fleet. That followed an incident when a United flight from Denver to Honolulu had to around and make an emergency landing after pieces of an engine fell from the sky and landed in a suburban Denver neighborhood.

Some 15 months later, in May of this year, the FAA cleared all 52 planes to fly again.


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Rich Thomaselli

Rich Thomaselli

Associate Writer

Editor Associate Writer true 9281 14744 Rich Thomaselli has written for TravelPulse since 2014 and has been a professional journalist for nearly 40 years. His work has appeared in USA Today, the New York Times and New York Yankees publications. He is an 11-time writ

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Watch Now!
Beyond the Ice: Explore the Poles the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Way.Friday, September 25, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Darrell Wyatt, Regional Sales Director, and Kevin Rattue, Naturalist, to discover what makes...
Upcoming Webinar
Journey to HawaiiWednesday, September 30, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join us on Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 as we take a virtual journey to the islands of Hawaii....
Upcoming Webinar
The Return of Grand VoyagesThursday, October 1, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
As luxury travelers seek deeper, more immersive ways to explore the world, demand for extended voyages...
Watch Now!
Beyond the Ice: Explore the Poles the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Way.Friday, September 25, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Darrell Wyatt, Regional Sales Director, and Kevin Rattue, Naturalist, to discover what makes...
Upcoming Webinar
Journey to HawaiiWednesday, September 30, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join us on Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 as we take a virtual journey to the islands of Hawaii....
Upcoming Webinar
The Return of Grand VoyagesThursday, October 1, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
As luxury travelers seek deeper, more immersive ways to explore the world, demand for extended voyages...