During a flight from Paris to Washington, DC on a United Airlines Boeing 777, an automated announcement instructed passengers to put on oxygen masks, causing panic among some of the passengers. Despite the announcement, cabin pressure remained normal throughout the flight.
Flight attendant Sarah Smith noticed that some individuals on the plane started trying to open ceiling compartments in search of oxygen masks. One person even attempted to open the aircraft door in a panic. She quickly alerted her colleagues and tried to reach the pilots for assistance.
The flight attendants struggled to reach the pilots during the commotion, but they managed to keep calm and ensure that everyone remained safe. The 26-year-old aircraft continued its journey without any trouble and landed safely at its destination.
United Airlines assured customers that there was nothing wrong with the air pressure in the cabin and that customers could deplane normally upon arrival. However, this incident added to the scrutiny United Airlines faced in recent times due to safety issues. The airline had been under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration following a series of safety incidents earlier in the year. Although United had indicated it was allowed to resume launching new routes, the FAA stated that its review was still ongoing.
