The accident sequence started when the pilots performed several nonstandard maneuvers at 15,000 feet (4,600 m), including a pitch-up at 2.3 g (23 m/s2) that induced a stall warning. They set the autopilot to climb at 500 feet per minute (150 m/min) to FL410. This exceeded the manufacturer's recommended climb rate at altitudes above FL380. In the attempt to reach FL410, the plane was pulled up at over 1.2 g, and the angle of attack became excessive to maintain climb rate in the thinner upper atmosphere. After reaching FL410, the plane was cruising at 150 knots (170 mph; 280 km/h) indicated airspeed, barely above stall speed, and had over-stressed the engines.
The Federal Aviation Administration has discussed temporary actions it may take with the airline’s leadership in recent days, according to people with knowledge of the matter. In addition to route restrictions, United may be barred from flying paying customers on newly delivered aircraft, said the people, who asked not to be identified describing the closed discussions.
The FAA already is suspending United’s ability to approve and promote pilots to fly different aircraft models, two of the people said.
The FAA already is suspending United’s ability to approve and promote pilots to fly different aircraft models, two of the people said.