A United Airlines flight made an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday morning, February 25.
United Flight 1544 departed from Newark shortly before 6 a.m., en route to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Approximately one hour into the flight, pilots detected a mechanical issue and opted to return to Newark, according to Port Authority officials.
The flight carried 176 passengers and six crew members. A United Airlines representative confirmed the aircraft landed safely, and all passengers deplaned normally at the gate. The airline arranged for an alternate aircraft to transport customers to Las Vegas.
This incident marks the third emergency landing for United Airlines flights at Newark in recent weeks, following similar events on January 18 and January 25. Concerns over flying have increased amid reports of recent plane crashes, but safety statistics provide some reassurance. A study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology indicates the likelihood of dying in a plane crash is one in 13 million, compared to one in 366 for car crashes, according to the National Safety Council.
What is happening with planes lately? It seems like there is an incident every week. Share your thoughts below.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.