WASHINGTON – A government oversight agency released a report Friday criticizing the Federal Aviation Administration’s ability to effectively monitor United Airlines’ aircraft maintenance operations due to staffing shortages, inadequate training programs, and limited access to airline operational data.
The U.S. Transportation Department Office of Inspector General launched this evaluation in early 2024 after the FAA increased its monitoring of United Airlines following multiple safety-related incidents involving the carrier.
According to the OIG’s findings released Friday, the FAA’s current monitoring approach is “insufficient to oversee safety risks.” The report also revealed that due to inspector shortages, the FAA has sometimes resorted to conducting inspections remotely rather than delaying them until in-person visits could be arranged.
