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FAA Watchdog: United Airlines Oversight Lacking
21 Feb
Summary
- Inadequate staffing hinders federal regulators' oversight of United Airlines maintenance.
- Virtual inspections were improperly used instead of on-site reviews.
- FAA faces challenges with insufficient staff and workforce planning for airlines.
Federal safety regulators' oversight of United Airlines maintenance has been compromised by inadequate staffing and an overreliance on virtual inspections, according to a government watchdog audit released recently. The U.S. Transportation Department's inspector general found that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lacks sufficient personnel and strategic workforce planning to effectively monitor United's substantial fleet.
Past audits have similarly highlighted FAA struggles in overseeing maintenance programs at other major airlines. The inspector general's report, conducted between May 2024 and December 2025, noted that FAA policy requiring on-site reviews was sometimes bypassed for remote inspections due to staffing or funding shortages. This practice risks safety as inspectors might miss critical maintenance issues when not physically present.
The audit recommended reassessing staffing rules, surveying inspector workloads and office culture, and improving training on accessing United's safety data. These shortcomings have led to fewer inspections and a loss of institutional knowledge, occurring while United experienced several maintenance-linked incidents, including a plane evacuation in March 2024 and a tire loss during takeoff in March 2024.
