A United Airlines flight was compelled to perform an emergency landing on Wednesday after the activation of one of the "open door" indicator lights shortly after takeoff.
The flight, designated as Flight 2434 and bound for Chicago, departed from Sarasota, Florida with 123 passengers and five crew members at 3:42 pm. Less than an hour later, the aircraft safely touched down in Tampa Bay.
While United Airlines did not explicitly disclose whether the issue pertained to the open door light, the company released a statement stating that the decision to make an emergency landing was a precautionary measure taken to address a potential mechanical problem.
However, an airport spokesperson in Tampa Bay informed the New York Post that air traffic control received communication from the plane's crew, citing the illuminated light as the reason for their request to clear a runway.
This incident follows closely after Alaska Airlines grounded all flights due to a separate occurrence. In that incident, a flight from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California was forced to make an emergency landing at its departure point when a panel detached from the aircraft's side, resulting in cabin depressurization.
It is worth noting that the aircraft involved in the Alaska Airlines incident was a relatively new Boeing 737-9 MAX. While United Airlines is the only other American carrier operating this type of aircraft, the plane involved in Wednesday's emergency landing was an Airbus A319.
Subsequently, Alaska Airlines announced that it would be taking the precautionary measure of temporarily grounding its fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft. The airline stated that each aircraft would only return to service after undergoing comprehensive maintenance and safety inspections, which are expected to be completed within the next few days.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of ensuring the complete safety of every aircraft delivered to airlines and taking flight, stating that they must be 100 percent safe.
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