United Airlines 737 Max 8 Veers Off Taxiway in Houston Incident

A United Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 deviated from the taxiway at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport on 8 March, resulting in the aircraft's left wing dipping into the grassy verge. The incident occurred after the flight, numbered UA2477, arrived from Memphis with 160 passengers and six crew members onboard at 08:00 local time.

Following the landing, the aircraft unexpectedly exited the designated taxiway, leading United Airlines to initiate an immediate passenger deplaning process using stairs. The airline has also announced plans to relocate the aircraft from the incident site promptly. Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have commenced investigations into the event, which fortunately did not result in any injuries.

United Airlines has yet to clarify whether the incident involving the left landing gear occurred before or after the aircraft departed the taxiway. In light of the situation, the airline expressed gratitude towards the crew for ensuring the safe disembarkation of all passengers and affirmed its commitment to cooperating with the NTSB, FAA, and Boeing to ascertain the cause of the mishap.

Passengers affected by the incident were transported by bus to the terminal, where United’s team provided assistance with their onward travel plans and other requirements. Efforts are underway to retrieve and return luggage to the passengers in a timely manner.

The weather conditions at the time of the incident included heavy precipitation, with the National Weather Service forecasting thunderstorms into the early afternoon, which may have contributed to the taxiway excursion.

The involved Boeing 737 Max 8, constructed at Boeing’s Renton facility in 2019 and delivered to United Airlines in June 2023, is under scrutiny as part of the ongoing investigation. Boeing has extended its support to United Airlines and the investigative authorities, emphasizing its readiness to assist in any capacity needed to understand the dynamics of the incident fully.