United Airlines Flight Experiences Unintentional Deployment of Oxygen Masks

During a Transatlantic flight on a United Airlines Boeing 777, an automated announcement instructed passengers to put on oxygen masks, causing panic among some passengers despite cabin pressure being normal the entire time. The incident occurred during a flight from Paris to Washington, DC, with passengers being told to wait for oxygen masks to fall from the ceiling and then put them on, although few, if any, masks actually deployed. The United Airlines spokesperson stated that only a small number of oxygen masks inadvertently deployed.

Passenger Parker Pitman shared his experience, mentioning that he couldn’t see any masks on the plane and that some people even tried to force open ceiling compartments in a panic. One passenger had a panic attack and attempted to open the aircraft door, causing confusion among passengers and crew. Flight attendants announced difficulty contacting the pilots, but passengers eventually learned that the 26-year-old aircraft was not in trouble, and the flight continued as scheduled to Washington, DC, and then on to its next destination.

Despite the initial panic, the United Airlines spokesperson assured that the air pressure in the cabin was normal and that the aircraft landed safely with passengers deplaning normally. The airline has faced scrutiny from regulators this year due to safety incidents, leading to restrictions on launching new routes. Although the airline recently indicated a return to normal operations, the Federal Aviation Administration stated that their ongoing review continues.