US Audit Finds FAA Oversight of United Airlines Maintenance Lacking

A government watchdog audit has identified significant gaps in the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) ability to oversee maintenance programs at United Airlines, citing inadequate staffing, high turnover, and the improper use of virtual inspections. The report, released by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General (OIG), raises concerns about the effectiveness of federal safety oversight for one of the nation's largest carriers.

The findings suggest that persistent workforce challenges within the FAA are creating potential safety risks by limiting the agency's capacity for thorough, on-site surveillance of United's extensive maintenance operations. This audit is part of a broader trend of increased scrutiny on the FAA, following similar OIG reviews of the agency's oversight of other major airlines, including American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Allegiant Air.

Key Audit Findings

The audit, officially designated as DOT OIG Audit Project No. 24A3003A000, was conducted between May 2024 and December 2025. It occurred during a period marked by several highly publicized maintenance-linked incidents involving United aircraft. According to the OIG report, the FAA's Certificate Management Office (CMO) responsible for United's oversight had vacancies in 33% of its inspector positions, a critical staffing shortfall.

This shortage has led to a reduction in the number of inspections conducted and an "overall loss of institutional knowledge." The report detailed a concerning practice where inspectors were instructed to perform reviews remotely to cope with staffing or travel funding deficits. "Inspectors we spoke with stated that their front-line managers instructed them to perform inspections virtually rather than postponing inspections," the report stated. This practice contravenes FAA policy, which requires that reviews that cannot be done on-site should be postponed. The OIG warned that remote work could lead to inspectors missing or misidentifying critical maintenance issues.

Another significant gap identified was the insufficient training for inspectors on how to access and analyze United's own safety data. This prevents them from fully evaluating maintenance problems and identifying systemic risk trends within the airline's operations.

Context of Recent Incidents

The timing of the audit coincided with a series of safety events at United. On March 7, 2024, a United Airlines Boeing 777-200 lost a tire during takeoff from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), diverting to Los Angeles (LAX) for a safe landing. The following day, on March 8, 2024, a United Boeing 737 MAX 8 rolled off the runway after landing at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Later, on December 13, 2025, another United Boeing 777-200 experienced an engine failure during takeoff from Dulles International Airport (IAD) but returned without incident.

While the audit does not draw a direct causal link between these specific events and the oversight gaps, the incidents formed the backdrop for the OIG's investigation into the effectiveness of the FAA's surveillance.

Agency and Airline Responses

In a letter included with the audit report, the FAA stated it agreed with most of the OIG's recommendations and was developing a plan to address them by the end of the year. "FAA will implement a more systemic approach to strengthen inspector capacity and will take other measures to ensure that staffing levels remain sufficient to meet surveillance requirements," the agency wrote.

Recommendations from the OIG include a reevaluation of the FAA's staffing models, an independent survey of inspector workloads and office culture, and enhanced training programs. The FAA declined to comment further when contacted by the Associated Press (AP).

United Airlines, in a statement to the AP, emphasized its internal safety systems and cooperation with regulators. "United has long advocated in favor of providing the FAA with the resources it needs for its important work," the carrier said. The airline also noted that it works closely with the FAA on a daily basis.

What Comes Next

The FAA is expected to present a corrective action plan to the OIG detailing how it will implement the audit's recommendations. This will likely involve a new strategy for inspector recruitment, training, and retention, as well as revised policies on the use of virtual inspection tools. The OIG will monitor the FAA's progress in addressing the identified deficiencies. The official audit announcement can be found on the DOT OIG website.

Why This Matters

This audit highlights a systemic challenge facing U.S. aviation regulators: maintaining robust, in-person oversight amid chronic staffing shortages. For airlines, it underscores the importance of internal safety management systems as a primary line of defense. For the industry, it signals that regulatory scrutiny will remain intense as the FAA works to rebuild its inspector workforce and restore confidence in its oversight capabilities.

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