San Francisco International Airport Sees Two United Airlines Safety-related Disruptions In One Day With Flights Affected And Planes Grounded : New Update

Published on September 3, 2025

Back-to-Back Safety Incidents Disrupt United Airlines Flights astatine San Francisco International Airport

SAN FRANCISCO — United Airlines faced 2 abstracted safety-related incidents wrong 24 hours astatine San Francisco International Airport (SFO), forcing craft retired of work and causing delays for hundreds of passengers. Although nary injuries were reported, nan back-to-back disruptions person raised renewed attraction connected crushed handling practices and inflight precautionary measures astatine 1 of nan nation’s busiest airports.

Tail Strike connected nan Ramp

The first incident occurred connected Monday nighttime erstwhile United Flight 1871 to Denver came into interaction pinch United Flight 796 to Boston while being pushed backmost from its gate. According to nan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), nan 2 craft clipped 1 different successful a non-controlled ramp area—a area wherever craft movements are guided by crushed crews alternatively than aerial postulation controllers.

Both planes were instantly grounded for thorough inspections. Passengers from nan 2 flights were safely deplaned and rebooked connected replacement craft later successful nan evening. United Airlines confirmed that modular boarding and information procedures were followed and emphasized that rider information was ne'er compromised.

The FAA has since opened an investigation into nan incident, which underscores nan value of precision during crushed handling operations, particularly successful congested areas for illustration San Francisco International Airport.

Burning Odor Forces Emergency Return

Just hours later, connected Tuesday morning, a 2nd United craft encountered different rumor soon aft takeoff. Flight 2664 to Baltimore, operated by a Boeing 737 Max 9 carrying 164 passengers and 8 crew, departed SFO astatine 9:47 a.m. Roughly 40 minutes into nan flight, unit and passengers began detecting a plastic-like burning odor successful nan cabin.

As a precautionary measure, nan pilots chose to move nan craft backmost to San Francisco. The level landed safely, and each passengers deplaned without incident. United arranged for a replacement craft to transportation travelers onward to Baltimore.

The hose has not yet disclosed nan root of nan odor, though attraction teams are conducting an investigation. A United spokesperson described nan determination to return arsenic a “cautious but basal step,” reiterating that nan information of passengers and unit remains nan airline’s apical priority.

FAA Oversight and Operational Disruption

While neither incident caused injuries, nan dual disruptions created logistical challenges astatine SFO. The FAA confirmed it will analyse nan crushed collision involving Flights 1871 and 796, while nan Baltimore-bound formation remains nether hose review.

Aviation experts statement that consecutive incidents, while rare, tin create ripple effects crossed an airline’s network. With San Francisco serving arsenic a awesome United hub, moreover little disruptions person nan imaginable to effect connecting flights, customer itineraries, and airdrome operations.

Despite nan setbacks, United emphasized that each affected travelers were accommodated connected replacement flights, minimizing extended delays.

Previous Incident astatine SFO

This week’s mishaps travel conscionable months aft different crushed collision involving United astatine nan aforesaid airport. On May 6, 2025, 2 Boeing 777-300ER jets—UA863 to Sydney and UA877 to Hong Kong—collided wingtip-to-wingtip adjacent Terminal 2 during pushback operations.

That incident led to nan cancellation of some long-haul flights, stranding complete 500 passengers. Although nary 1 was hurt, some craft sustained visible harm and required important attraction checks.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FAA later confirmed they were investigating nan incident, focusing connected crushed coordination procedures and connection practices betwixt formation and ramp crews.

United’s Response

In consequence to nan latest events, United Airlines released a connection reaffirming its “unwavering committedness to safety.” The hose pledged afloat practice pinch national regulators and confirmed that soul reviews of some incidents are already underway.

“Every determination we make is centered connected nan information of our passengers and crew,” nan connection read. “We are moving intimately pinch investigators and reviewing our crushed and inflight procedures to guarantee we support nan highest standards of safety.”

Looking Ahead

For travelers, these incidents item nan complexity of operations astatine awesome world hubs. With hundreds of craft movements daily, nan separator for correction is slim, and coordination among crews, controllers, and crushed unit is critical.

While information experts accent that specified events are still uncommon successful modern aviation, they besides constituent retired that repeated disruptions astatine a azygous airdrome successful a short clip span often lead to heightened scrutiny from regulators.

As investigations continue, some nan FAA and NTSB are expected to merchandise findings that could power crushed handling standards and hose procedures not only astatine SFO but besides crossed different engaged airports nationwide.

For now, United Airlines is focused connected restoring assurance among its passengers, ensuring that contempt nan different drawstring of events, its flights stay safe, reliable, and intimately monitored.