US Audit Flags FAA Oversight Gaps in United Maintenance

A federal watchdog audit has identified significant gaps in the Federal Aviation Administration’s oversight of United Airlines maintenance operations, citing staffing shortages, high employee turnover and the improper use of virtual inspections in place of required on-site reviews.

The report, released by the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, found that the Federal Aviation Administration lacks sufficient workforce planning and inspector capacity to effectively monitor United’s large and complex fleet. The audit covered the period from May 2024 through December 2025.

According to the findings, FAA inspection offices responsible for overseeing United faced persistent staffing shortages, resulting in fewer inspections, reduced surveillance of maintenance operations and what the report described as an overall loss of institutional knowledge. Inspectors told auditors that front-line managers instructed them to conduct certain reviews virtually rather than postponing them, even though agency policy requires on-site inspections when remote reviews are not appropriate.

The inspector general warned that performing maintenance oversight virtually can create safety risks if inspectors miss or misidentify issues that would be more evident during in-person examinations. The report also highlighted deficiencies in inspector access to United’s safety data systems, limiting the agency’s ability to evaluate maintenance trends and potential risk patterns.

The audit follows several high-profile maintenance-linked incidents involving United aircraft. In March 2024, passengers were evacuated after a United jet rolled off a runway in Houston. The following day, another United aircraft lost a tire during takeoff from San Francisco before landing safely in Los Angeles. In December 2025, a United flight experienced an engine failure during takeoff from Washington Dulles before returning safely.

The FAA said in a letter included in the report that it agrees with most of the recommendations and plans to implement corrective measures by year’s end. Proposed actions include reevaluating staffing models, conducting an independent workplace survey on inspector workload and culture, and strengthening training related to airline safety data systems.

United stated that it works closely with the FAA daily and maintains its own internal safety management system, while advocating for sufficient regulatory resources to support effective oversight.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, apnews.com