For travellers asking “Is United safe?” the answer is yes. However, in recent years the number and frequency of incidents have raised concerns and drawn increased safety scrutiny from not only international governing bosies like the Federal Aviation Administration but AirlineRatings itself.
United Airlines is one of the world’s largest carriers and maintains an excellent safety record. It holds a 7/7 safety rating from AirlineRatings.com, meeting all major international safety and audit requirements. United also passes the rigorous IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), a key global benchmark. Whilst the airline has not yet undergone an AirlineRatings onboard safety audit, if passed, which we would expect it to, United Airlines would be awarded a Seven Star Plus rating.
United operates a fleet of 1,053 aircraft with an average age of 15.6 years. The 737 family forms the backbone of the airline, with around 560 in service. Many of its older jets are being replaced under the United Next fleet renewal program, which introduces Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and Airbus A321XLRs while phasing out older Boeing 757s and 767s. United also operates one of the world’s largest fleets of Boeing 787 Dreamliners with 79 currently in operation.
United Airlines Accident History and Safety
Like all major carriers, United experiences operational incidents. In 2024–2025, reports included bird strikes, engine shutdowns, runway excursions, and precautionary diversions due to smoke in the cabin. Early in 2024, after a string of incidents that included a dropped wheel, a lost panel, and injuries from turbulence, CEO Scott Kirby addressed customers directly in a letter.
“Unfortunately, in the past few weeks, our airline has experienced a number of incidents that are reminders of the importance of safety. While they are all unrelated, I want you to know that these incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus,” Kirby wrote, pledging additional action to strengthen safety.
He outlined measures such as extra in-person training for all pilots starting in May 2024 and a centralized training curriculum for new-hire maintenance technicians.
One notable case that Kirby was referring to occurred on March 8, 2024, when United flight UA2477, a Boeing 737 MAX, exited the taxiway into a grassy area after landing. Investigators found the touchdown to be normal, but the captain chose not to slow aggressively at first because the runway appeared dry, he wanted to expedite clearing it, and he preferred a gradual deceleration for passenger comfort. The aircraft subsequently skidded off the runway and struck a concrete manhole structure, causing the left main landing gear to shear off at its designed fuse pins, preventing more severe damage. While unusual, the design worked as intended, and there were no injuries.
The United Airlines 737 MAX plane was pictured at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston after the main landing gear collapsed post a runway excursion
Since then, United has experienced incidents such as smoking brakes, cabin pressure issues, and mid flight engine shutdowns. While such events can sound alarming, they are situations airline crew and ground staff are trained to handle. Across the industry, the key to safety is not preventing all incidents, which is impossible, but ensuring they do not escalate into accidents or worse. Modern twin-engine aircraft are built to operate safely on a single engine, and in every reported case over the past two years, with the exception of turbulence, United crews have landed without causing injury, demonstrating strong pilot training, communication, and adherence to safety protocols.
In most cases such as the missing panel and dropped tyre, passengers onboard were not in any danger. However, one serious incident did occur on May 14, 2024, at 14:30 UTC, when a Boeing 787-9 (registration N27957) operating as United Airlines Flight 28 experienced an uncontained failure of its No. 1 (left) engine shortly after take-off from Singapore Changi Airport. According to the NTSB, the high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 aft blade retainer in the No. 1 engine developed a fatigue crack that grew through its thickness and around its circumference until it failed completely. The failure was not contained by the turbine case. This sort of incident in the hands of a less experienced and qualified crew could have been disastrous.
In 2021 United Airlines flight 328 experienced a catastrophic uncontained engine failure after takeoff from Denver International Airport, grounding all Boeing 777-200 aircraft for a month while investigations took place
United has logged 118 incidents through 2024 and 2025 to date. With a fleet of 1,053 aircraft, this equates to roughly 0.11 incidents per aircraft. This number, whilst useful also needs to looked it in depth as not all incidents are equal.
United Crashes
Excluding terrorism, United has not suffered a fatal accident in more than three decades. Its last fatal crash was Flight 93 on September 11, 2001, a terrorist act rather than an airline operational failure.
United’s history, which dates back to 1926, inevitably includes serious accidents from earlier decades. In the jet age, two of the most notable were:
United Flight 232 (1989): A DC-10 suffered catastrophic engine failure and total loss of hydraulics. Despite having almost no flight control, Captain Al Haynes and his crew managed to crash-land the aircraft in Sioux City, Iowa. While 111 lives were lost, 185 passengers survived—an outcome remembered as an extraordinary demonstration of crew resource management.
United Flight 585 (1991) and USAir Flight 427 (1994): Both crashes were eventually traced to a design flaw in the Boeing 737 rudder system. The investigations led to worldwide modifications and strengthened safety standards across the industry.
These incidents remain part of United’s past, but they also underscore the progress made in aviation safety. Lessons learned from them have shaped modern standards, making air travel safer for passengers everywhere.
The 737 family forms the backbone of United Airlines, with around 560 in service.
United Airlines Reviews
Economy Class
United’s economy class service is straightforward but offers a few advantages over ultra-low-cost carriers. On domestic flights, passengers receive free soft drinks and small snacks, with the option to purchase more substantial melas and snacks. Long-haul international flights include complimentary meals, seatback or personal-device entertainment, and increasingly, Wi-Fi access across the fleet.
Long-haul international United flights include complimentary meals, seatback or personal-device entertainment, and increasingly, Wi-Fi access across the fleet.
For those seeking extra comfort, Economy Plus offers several inches of additional legroom for an added fee. United Reviews note that while the standard economy product can feel tight on longer flights, Economy Plus improves the experience considerably.
Business Class
United’s premium long-haul product is Polaris Business Class, designed to compete with international carriers. Passengers enjoy lie-flat seats, direct aisle access in most cabin layouts, high-quality bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue, and multi-course dining. Reviews highlight Polaris lounges, available in major hubs like Chicago, Newark, and San Francisco, as a standout feature with upscale dining and relaxation areas.
Passengers flying on United's Polaris product will enjoy lie-flat seats, direct aisle access in most cabin layouts, high-quality bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue, and multi-course dining
While Polaris is considered one of the strongest U.S. business-class offerings, some passengers note variation depending on aircraft type—older planes may not yet feature the newest seating layout.
The Verdict: Is United Safe and Worth Flying?
United Airlines is safe, and AirlineRatings would have no hesitation in recommending the airline. We would also feel confident flying with them. A string of recent incidents has highlighted the professionalism of United’s crews, whose exceptional training allows them to handle emergencies with skill and composure, earning our respect.
That said, we do have some lingering concerns about maintenance practices and the thoroughness of checks. Still, it is important to remember the sheer size of this airline and the fact that, excluding terrorism, United has not suffered a fatality in 30 years.
We also value United’s commitment to transparent and honest reporting of incidents, which plays a vital role in ensuring that issues remain just that—incidents, not accidents—while helping the aviation community continually improve safety.
Incidents happen every day, and in fact, an airline claiming a completely blemish-free record can often raise more questions and concerns than reassurance.
As for Passenger reviews, these are varied, reflecting the challenges of a massive global airline with a mixed fleet including ageing aircraft. Economy travellers will find a reliable but sometimes no-frills experience, while business-class customers, particularly those flying Polaris, enjoy a premium product that competes well internationally.
For travelers asking “Is United safe?” the answer is yes. While reviews suggest service quality can vary, United remains a respected and dependable airline.
For travellers asking “Is United safe?” the answer is yes. However, in recent years the number and frequency of incidents have raised concerns and drawn increased safety scrutiny from not only international governing bosies like the Federal Aviation Administration but AirlineRatings itself.
United Airlines is one of the world’s largest carriers and maintains an excellent safety record. It holds a 7/7 safety rating from AirlineRatings.com, meeting all major international safety and audit requirements. United also passes the rigorous IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), a key global benchmark. Whilst the airline has not yet undergone an AirlineRatings onboard safety audit, if passed, which we would expect it to, United Airlines would be awarded a Seven Star Plus rating.
United operates a fleet of 1,053 aircraft with an average age of 15.6 years. The 737 family forms the backbone of the airline, with around 560 in service. Many of its older jets are being replaced under the United Next fleet renewal program, which introduces Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and Airbus A321XLRs while phasing out older Boeing 757s and 767s. United also operates one of the world’s largest fleets of Boeing 787 Dreamliners with 79 currently in operation.
United Airlines Accident History and Safety
Like all major carriers, United experiences operational incidents. In 2024–2025, reports included bird strikes, engine shutdowns, runway excursions, and precautionary diversions due to smoke in the cabin. Early in 2024, after a string of incidents that included a dropped wheel, a lost panel, and injuries from turbulence, CEO Scott Kirby addressed customers directly in a letter.
“Unfortunately, in the past few weeks, our airline has experienced a number of incidents that are reminders of the importance of safety. While they are all unrelated, I want you to know that these incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus,” Kirby wrote, pledging additional action to strengthen safety.
He outlined measures such as extra in-person training for all pilots starting in May 2024 and a centralized training curriculum for new-hire maintenance technicians.
One notable case that Kirby was referring to occurred on March 8, 2024, when United flight UA2477, a Boeing 737 MAX, exited the taxiway into a grassy area after landing. Investigators found the touchdown to be normal, but the captain chose not to slow aggressively at first because the runway appeared dry, he wanted to expedite clearing it, and he preferred a gradual deceleration for passenger comfort. The aircraft subsequently skidded off the runway and struck a concrete manhole structure, causing the left main landing gear to shear off at its designed fuse pins, preventing more severe damage. While unusual, the design worked as intended, and there were no injuries.
The United Airlines 737 MAX plane was pictured at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston after the main landing gear collapsed post a runway excursion
Since then, United has experienced incidents such as smoking brakes, cabin pressure issues, and mid flight engine shutdowns. While such events can sound alarming, they are situations airline crew and ground staff are trained to handle. Across the industry, the key to safety is not preventing all incidents, which is impossible, but ensuring they do not escalate into accidents or worse. Modern twin-engine aircraft are built to operate safely on a single engine, and in every reported case over the past two years, with the exception of turbulence, United crews have landed without causing injury, demonstrating strong pilot training, communication, and adherence to safety protocols.
In most cases such as the missing panel and dropped tyre, passengers onboard were not in any danger. However, one serious incident did occur on May 14, 2024, at 14:30 UTC, when a Boeing 787-9 (registration N27957) operating as United Airlines Flight 28 experienced an uncontained failure of its No. 1 (left) engine shortly after take-off from Singapore Changi Airport. According to the NTSB, the high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 aft blade retainer in the No. 1 engine developed a fatigue crack that grew through its thickness and around its circumference until it failed completely. The failure was not contained by the turbine case. This sort of incident in the hands of a less experienced and qualified crew could have been disastrous.
In 2021 United Airlines flight 328 experienced a catastrophic uncontained engine failure after takeoff from Denver International Airport, grounding all Boeing 777-200 aircraft for a month while investigations took place
United has logged 118 incidents through 2024 and 2025 to date. With a fleet of 1,053 aircraft, this equates to roughly 0.11 incidents per aircraft. This number, whilst useful also needs to looked it in depth as not all incidents are equal.
United Crashes
Excluding terrorism, United has not suffered a fatal accident in more than three decades. Its last fatal crash was Flight 93 on September 11, 2001, a terrorist act rather than an airline operational failure.
United’s history, which dates back to 1926, inevitably includes serious accidents from earlier decades. In the jet age, two of the most notable were:
United Flight 232 (1989): A DC-10 suffered catastrophic engine failure and total loss of hydraulics. Despite having almost no flight control, Captain Al Haynes and his crew managed to crash-land the aircraft in Sioux City, Iowa. While 111 lives were lost, 185 passengers survived—an outcome remembered as an extraordinary demonstration of crew resource management.
United Flight 585 (1991) and USAir Flight 427 (1994): Both crashes were eventually traced to a design flaw in the Boeing 737 rudder system. The investigations led to worldwide modifications and strengthened safety standards across the industry.
These incidents remain part of United’s past, but they also underscore the progress made in aviation safety. Lessons learned from them have shaped modern standards, making air travel safer for passengers everywhere.
The 737 family forms the backbone of United Airlines, with around 560 in service.
United Airlines Reviews
Economy Class
United’s economy class service is straightforward but offers a few advantages over ultra-low-cost carriers. On domestic flights, passengers receive free soft drinks and small snacks, with the option to purchase more substantial melas and snacks. Long-haul international flights include complimentary meals, seatback or personal-device entertainment, and increasingly, Wi-Fi access across the fleet.
Long-haul international United flights include complimentary meals, seatback or personal-device entertainment, and increasingly, Wi-Fi access across the fleet.
For those seeking extra comfort, Economy Plus offers several inches of additional legroom for an added fee. United Reviews note that while the standard economy product can feel tight on longer flights, Economy Plus improves the experience considerably.
Business Class
United’s premium long-haul product is Polaris Business Class, designed to compete with international carriers. Passengers enjoy lie-flat seats, direct aisle access in most cabin layouts, high-quality bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue, and multi-course dining. Reviews highlight Polaris lounges, available in major hubs like Chicago, Newark, and San Francisco, as a standout feature with upscale dining and relaxation areas.
Passengers flying on United's Polaris product will enjoy lie-flat seats, direct aisle access in most cabin layouts, high-quality bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue, and multi-course dining
While Polaris is considered one of the strongest U.S. business-class offerings, some passengers note variation depending on aircraft type—older planes may not yet feature the newest seating layout.
The Verdict: Is United Safe and Worth Flying?
United Airlines is safe, and AirlineRatings would have no hesitation in recommending the airline. We would also feel confident flying with them. A string of recent incidents has highlighted the professionalism of United’s crews, whose exceptional training allows them to handle emergencies with skill and composure, earning our respect.
That said, we do have some lingering concerns about maintenance practices and the thoroughness of checks. Still, it is important to remember the sheer size of this airline and the fact that, excluding terrorism, United has not suffered a fatality in 30 years.
We also value United’s commitment to transparent and honest reporting of incidents, which plays a vital role in ensuring that issues remain just that—incidents, not accidents—while helping the aviation community continually improve safety.
Incidents happen every day, and in fact, an airline claiming a completely blemish-free record can often raise more questions and concerns than reassurance.
As for Passenger reviews, these are varied, reflecting the challenges of a massive global airline with a mixed fleet including ageing aircraft. Economy travellers will find a reliable but sometimes no-frills experience, while business-class customers, particularly those flying Polaris, enjoy a premium product that competes well internationally.
For travelers asking “Is United safe?” the answer is yes. While reviews suggest service quality can vary, United remains a respected and dependable airline.
