United flight #328 took off from Denver this afternoon, with 331 people aboard, headed to Honolulu.
Just after takeoff, the right-side engine disintegrated, sending debris flying.
Plane returns to Denver safely. No injuries on the ground.
But why…? washingtonpost.com/national/plane…
Just after takeoff, the right-side engine disintegrated, sending debris flying.
Plane returns to Denver safely. No injuries on the ground.
But why…? washingtonpost.com/national/plane…
2/ Not, Why did the engine fly apart?
Rather: Why did UA #328 return safely to Denver Int’l, land without incident, & have 331 passengers & crew disembark — shaken but uninjured?
What kept the 777 from crashing?
One word: Regulations.
(Video below of failed engine inflight.)
Rather: Why did UA #328 return safely to Denver Int’l, land without incident, & have 331 passengers & crew disembark — shaken but uninjured?
What kept the 777 from crashing?
One word: Regulations.
(Video below of failed engine inflight.)
https://twitter.com/AirlineFlyer/status/1363243840166100993
3/ Every aspect of that flight — every aspect of US commercial aviation — is regulated.
Design, engineering & testing of the plane.
Training of pilots.
Maintenance protocols for engines, and planes, and training of maintenance staff.
Emergency procedures & emergency training.
Design, engineering & testing of the plane.
Training of pilots.
Maintenance protocols for engines, and planes, and training of maintenance staff.
Emergency procedures & emergency training.
4/ Yes, a robust aircraft & incredibly calm & talented pilots, crew, and air traffic staff got that plane back on the ground in what could have been a catastrophe.
But none of *those* pieces were luck. They were in place by design.
But none of *those* pieces were luck. They were in place by design.
5/ Planes are engineered, built & maintained to survive. The US government requires it.
Pilots are talented, trained, retrained & deeply experienced because that’s the system they work in — the US gov’t requires it.
Flying isn’t just safer than driving. It’s safer than walking.
Pilots are talented, trained, retrained & deeply experienced because that’s the system they work in — the US gov’t requires it.
Flying isn’t just safer than driving. It’s safer than walking.
6/ Some part of that system failed today — clearly in the maintenance world.
But the whole rest of the system is a multilayered fail-safe. It worked.
That’s taking nothing from today’s remarkable individual skill & cool-headedness.
But the whole rest of the system is a multilayered fail-safe. It worked.
That’s taking nothing from today’s remarkable individual skill & cool-headedness.
7/ We get so used to running down the performance of government.
But we fail to notice the moments when it works brilliantly, and as we designed it too.
They happen every minute. Like UA #328.
But we fail to notice the moments when it works brilliantly, and as we designed it too.
They happen every minute. Like UA #328.
8/ There might even be a failure of the gov’t in today’s accident — of inadequate oversight or lax enforcement.
The investigators from the federal NTSB will figure that out too.
Inside a system designed & run by the US government.
…Safer than walking.
✈️
The investigators from the federal NTSB will figure that out too.
Inside a system designed & run by the US government.
…Safer than walking.
✈️
9/ BONUS:
Here is audio of the United pilots today talking to air traffic control — takeoff, declaring their emergency, guided back to Denver Int’l, cleared to land.
The calm competence on both sides is truly thrilling. (Plus we know how it ends.)
Here is audio of the United pilots today talking to air traffic control — takeoff, declaring their emergency, guided back to Denver Int’l, cleared to land.
The calm competence on both sides is truly thrilling. (Plus we know how it ends.)
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