Federal officials are investigating an incident involving a United Airlines flight that experienced a sudden drop near the coast of Maui in December 2022.
The plane reportedly plunged about 600 feet, causing some passengers and crew members to suffer injuries.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are both looking into the incident, which occurred on United flight 3033 from Los Angeles to Honolulu on December 12.
According to the Associated Press, the airline initially said that the drop was caused by turbulence, but some passengers have disputed that claim, saying that the descent was more severe than typical turbulence. The investigation will likely focus on the aircraft’s equipment, maintenance, and other factors that could have contributed to the incident.
United Airlines has released a statement regarding the investigation, saying, “We are fully cooperating with the NTSB and FAA as they investigate this incident. Safety is our top priority, and we take all incidents seriously.”
The airline has not yet released a detailed account of the incident or any findings from its own internal investigation.
