FAA orders United to inspect Boeing 777s after engine blows apart during flight
FAA Administrator Steve Dickson identified the focus on the stepped-up inspections as hollow fan blades unique to the Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engine model and used solely on Boeing 777s. United had 24 of the planes in service; it is the only U.S. airline with the engine in its fleet, according to the FAA. In South Korea, Asiana Airlines grounded nine, seven of which were in service, and Korean Air said it grounded 16 aircraft, six of which are in service. The airline has said the plane had engine trouble after takeoff and returned to Naha. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways will stop operating a combined 32 planes with that engine, Nikkei reported.
Experimental plane crashes on Melbourne Beach, injuring 1
MELBOURNE BEACH, Fla. โ An experimental aircraft crashed Friday morning on Melbourne Beach, officials said. The Sheriffโs Office said the pilot took off from the airport in Valkaria and the engine died before he tried landing on the beach. Emergency responders reported the plane had about 20 gallons of fuel but none of it leaked onto the beach after crashing. Melbourne Beach resident Rick OโConnor took pictures of the upside down plane. โItโs pretty amazing, sent it up to my grandchildren, show them what I found on the beach today,โ OโConnor said.
Truck clips wing of airplane making emergency landing on Alligator Alley in Florida
BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. A small plane made an emergency landing Wednesday morning at Mile Marker 40 on Alligator Alley, officials from the city of Weston confirmed via Twitter. According to Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Arlene Salac, the single-engine Mooney M20R made the emergency landing at 9:50 a.m. According to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Yanko Reyes, the pilot, identified only as a 45-year-old man, reported a mechanical issues on that plane that affected the engine. Reyes said the pilot was forced to land the plane in the right emergency shoulder. The driver of the landscaping truck was also not injured, authorities said.
Single-engine aircraft skids off runway at Merritt Island Airport
MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. โ A small single-engine aircraft skidded off the runway at Merritt Island Airport on Sunday, News 6 partner Florida Today reports. The incident was reported at about 11:30 a.m. at the airport, located at 900 Airport Road. The unidentified aircraft reportedly ran off the end of the runway and into a nearby grassy area. The pilot onboard the airplane refused further treatment. The incident is under investigation by the FAA.