Airlines

Emergency slide from United Airlines flight lands in Chicago home’s backyard

In mid-air on Monday, a United Airlines Boeing 767 lost its emergency evacuation slide; according to officials and a witness, the slide wound up in the garden of a house close to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

No injuries were reportedly sustained in the incident, although the house’s roof was harmed by the slide that fell. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports that a United Airlines Boeing 767 arrived from Switzerland and safely landed at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Monday.

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However, maintenance personnel found that the aircraft’s emergency evacuation slide was missing during the post-landing examination. Later on, it was discovered that the missing slide had actually fallen and ended up in the backyard of the house close to the airport.

Patrick Devitt, according to the reports, did not reside at the time, but his son and father-in-law were there and reported hearing a “boom” shortly after noon. Devitt moved the slide from the backyard to the front of his house.

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According to him, the slide damaged the roof, a window screen, and a downspout when it hit a portion of the home. It’s bigger than a compact car when it’s spread out, but I’m sure it seems a little jumbled up in the photo from when we dragged it out. It’s a very, very large piece of machinery, Devitt said.

Emergency evacuation slide drops into backyard in Chicago while United Airlines plane flies overhead. No injuries – WLS pic.twitter.com/WWlP71Ru8v— BNO News (@BNONews) July 18, 2023

According to United, the firm is investigating how the slide separated from the aircraft. The FAA is also looking into what happened.”We immediately contacted the FAA,” United stated in a statement. “We are working with our team to better understand the circumstances surrounding this matter.”

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Airlines

Qantas Engineers Stage Walkout Over Cost of Living Concerns

Tensions at Qantas reached new heights as base maintenance workers in Brisbane walked out of a hangar meeting hosted by the airline’s CEO, Vanessa Hudson.

The walkout was a clear display of displeasure and aimed to send a strong message to the company’s management about the growing frustrations within the workforce. The workers, represented by the Qantas Engineers Alliance, have been pushing for wage increases that reflect the rising cost of living.

In an open display of displeasure, Qantas Base maintenance workers walked out of a hangar meet hosted by the CEO Vanessa Hudson in Brisbane, also aimed to send a message to the management.

Qantas Engineers Alliance members have been demanding decent wage increases to match with… pic.twitter.com/y9EVjc46VM— FL360aero (@fl360aero) September 14, 2024

Despite ongoing discussions, the employees feel that their concerns have been overlooked, leading to this public show of dissent. The hangar meeting, meant to foster dialogue and address employee concerns, instead became the stage for a visible demonstration of dissatisfaction as the workers exited in unison.

For some time, the engineers and maintenance staff have expressed frustration over wage stagnation amid increasing inflation and living costs. Their demand is simple: a decent and fair wage adjustment that keeps pace with economic realities. The walkout underscores the workers’ determination to stand firm on their request for better pay and fair treatment.

As Qantas navigates its recovery post-pandemic, this incident highlights the growing internal challenges the airline faces, especially concerning its workforce. The maintenance staff’s actions have put additional pressure on the company’s leadership to address the wage concerns and avoid further escalation.