United Airlines Flew A Plane In Unsafe Condition 23 Times, FAA Says

As if this year hasn't been bad enough for United Airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration is seeking $435,000 in penalty fees from the company for allegedly flying a plane that was not in “airworthy condition.” The plane in question flew 23 times.

In June 2014, United Airlines mechanics replaced a fuel pump pressure switch on a Boeing 787 to rectify a problem that the flight crew had documented earlier. The airline, however, did not perform the necessary inspection of the work before returning the aircraft to service, the FAA said in a press release Tuesday.

According to the FAA, the plane was not airworthy during each of its 23 international and domestic flights.

Read: Passenger Settles With United Airlines After Being Forcibly Removed From Plane

“Maintaining the highest levels of safety depends on operators closely following all applicable rules and regulations,” FAA administration Michael Huerta said in the press release. “Failing to do so can create unsafe conditions.”

In response to the allegations, United Airlines requested a meeting with the FAA.

The allegations that United may have operated a plane that was not safe to fly come in the midst of a rough year for the company. The airline's woes began in April when video captured a passenger being dragged off an “overbooked” flight by security. In a series of subsequent missteps, company officials apologized for having to “re-accommodate” the passenger and then blamed the passenger for the incident. The controversy was quelled when United eventually settled with the man for an undisclosed sum of money.

In the wake of the now-notorious incident and boycotts of the company in response, United has had to face off against a number of other allegations as well.

In late April, the world’s largest bunny died, allegedly while en route to its destination on a United flight. Its unidentified owner said the 4-foot 4-inch rabbit had just undergone a check-up at the vet before boarding and was fine, but arrived at its destination dead.

“Something very strange has happened and I want to know what,” the owner said.

United, however, said the bunny died after it reached its destination and not during the flight.

Read: United Airlines Flies Woman 3,000 Miles In Wrong Direction

In another incident, this time in early May, United accidentally flew a woman 3,000 miles in the wrong direction after failing to notify her of a gate change. The woman, who spoke only French and no English, showed her boarding pass to at least two attendants out of Newark Airport in New Jersey who didn’t notify her. Instead of ending up back home in France, the woman found herself in San Francisco, where she was then stranded for 11 hours.

United ultimately admitted the incident was a “horrible failure” and settled it in an undisclosed lawsuit.