Two passengers were injured on Thursday when a United Airlines plane abruptly changed course while landing in San Francisco.
“United Flight 2428 was descending into SFO on September 19 with the seat belt signal activated when the aircraft slowed to account for another aircraft at a lower altitude. Two passengers, including one who was not in their seat at the time, reported possible injuries and were transported to a hospital. We are grateful to our flight crew for their efforts to ensure the safety of our employees and customers,” the airline said in a statement.
The flight was en route from Newark.
These types of incidents often involve the aircraft’s Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which warns pilots of aircraft on conflicting courses of a potential collision and prompts them to change course to avoid it. TCAS instructions typically tell one pilot to climb and the other to descend to create more vertical separation between their aircraft.
United could not yet confirm whether TCAS was involved in the September 19 incident.
It is the latest confirmation of the importance of observing the seat belt symbol.
Thing!: Even if the seatbelt symbol is off, you must keep your seatbelt on while flying. Here’s why.
If it is on, it is because pilots are expecting turbulence or are prepared for sudden maneuvers.
Even if the seat belt is off, unexpected turbulence can occur. It is therefore advisable to always have the seat belt on when you are in the plane.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Two passengers injured as United flight suddenly changes course
