A United flight from Maui to San Francisco plummeted to less than 800ft above the Pacific Ocean shortly after takeoff in December, an apparent near crash and previously unreported safety incident revealed by airline industry publication the Air Current.
Flight tracking data analysis revealed that the Boeing 777-200 had reached an altitude of roughly 2,200ft when it began a steep dive, descending at a rate of about 8,600ft a minute. After dipping below 775ft, the flight recovered altitude and traveled to San Francisco without further issue.
The entire ordeal unfolded in heavy rain, lasted less than 45 seconds and was not mentioned in recordings of air traffic control radio calls reviewed by the Air Current.
United “closely coordinated with the [Federal Aviation Administration] and [Air Line Pilots Association, International] on an investigation that ultimately resulted in the pilots receiving additional training”, a United spokesperson, Josh Freed, said in a statement to the Guardian about the incident. “Safety remains our highest priority.”