Boeings troubled 787 faces yet another safety concern as a United Airlines plane was forced to make an unplanned landing after cockpit navigation screens failed.
There was slight panic in the cockpit on during a flight from Los Angeles to London as both the captains primary flight and navigation displays failed to a blank screen.
While flying at an altitude of 35,000 feet in a remote region over Canadas frigid and inhospitable Hudson Bay, the planes flight management computers entered a degraded mode with limited capabilities, Transportation Safety Board of Canada reported.
The report added that the commercial plane was left without lateral navigation - or LNAV - an autopilot mode that involves following a programmed flight path.
Boeings troubled 787 faces yet another safety concern as a United Airlines plane was forced to make an unplanned landing after cockpit navigation screens failed
While flying at an altitude of 35,000 feet in a remote region over Canadas frigid and inhospitable Hudson Bay (pictured), the planes flight management computers entered a degraded mode with limited capabilities, Transportation Safety Board of Canada reported
A Mayday emergency was subsequently declared though the pilot was still able to use other functions to communicate with the ground crew using satellite and radio.
The September 26 flight was forced make an emergency landing at Chicago OHare International Airport, where United has a major maintenance base.
It took more than two hours for the plane to reach the windy city but the pilots managed to get the jet on the ground without incident - 3,940 miles from its projected destination.
A United Airlines spokesperson confirmed that the plane was forced to make a diversion to address a potential technology issue, Business Insider reported.
The flight to Londons Heathrow Airport then had to be canceled and passengers booked onto alternative flights.
The aircraft remained on the ground for more than a day but has been back in service since September 28.
The September 26 flight was forced make an emergency landing at Chicago OHare International Airport, where United has a major maintenance base. Pictured: United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft interior.
In addition to United Airlines alleged errors, Boeing, the worlds largest aerospace company, has faced intense scrutiny upon the release of its 787 Dreamliner fleet
The incident comes just days before the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that it was dropping a safety probe into United Airlines following a slew of mishaps, including an incident in which the landing gear of a United plane failed causing the plane to roll onto the grass at the end of the runway.
In addition to United Airlines alleged errors, Boeing, the worlds largest aerospace company, has faced intense scrutiny upon the release of its 787 Dreamliner fleet.
In 2013, the FAA grounded all 787s until a revised battery design was approved.
From 2019 onward, the 787 experienced quality control issues that slowed production and led to a near-total halt in deliveries from 2021 to 2022.
And again in August of this year, the leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners was inspected by the FAA regarding incidents in which planes were found uncontrollably nose-diving in mid-air.
A whistleblower has since come out with numerous safety concerns about the 787 fleet and the FAAs investigation is ongoing.