FAA Audit Finds Staffing Shortages Hinder Oversight of United Airlines Maintenance

Government watchdog report cites virtual inspections and loss of institutional knowledge as concerns

Feb. 21, 2026 at 8:08pm by Ben Kaplan

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A government audit has found that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lacks sufficient staffing and workforce planning to effectively monitor United Airlines' large fleet. The U.S. Transportation Department's inspector general report cited issues with virtual inspections, staffing shortages, and loss of institutional knowledge, which have hindered the FAA's ability to properly oversee United's maintenance operations.

Why it matters

The findings raise concerns about the FAA's capacity to ensure the safety of air travel, especially at major airlines like United. Proper oversight and on-site inspections are crucial to identify and address maintenance issues before they lead to incidents that could put passengers at risk.

The details

The audit, conducted between May 2024 and December 2025, found that the FAA sometimes had its personnel conduct inspections 'virtually' when it lacked staffing or funding for travel, even though agency policy requires postponing reviews that can't be done on-site. The report stated that doing the work remotely can create safety risks because inspectors may miss or misidentify maintenance problems. The audit also found that ongoing staffing shortages at the FAA inspection offices tasked with United's oversight have resulted in fewer inspections being conducted, limited surveillance of the carrier's maintenance operations, and an 'overall loss of institutional knowledge'.

  • The audit was conducted between May 2024 and December 2025.
  • In March 2024, passengers had to be evacuated from a United plane that rolled off a runway after landing in Houston.
  • The next day, a United jetliner bound for Japan lost a tire while taking off from San Francisco but later landed safely in Los Angeles.
  • In December 2025, a United flight experienced an engine failure during takeoff from Dulles International Airport before safely returning to the airport.

The players

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation.

United Airlines

A major American airline that operates a large fleet of aircraft.

U.S. Transportation Department's Inspector General

The government watchdog that conducted the audit on the FAA's oversight of United Airlines' maintenance operations.

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What they’re saying

“United has long advocated in favor of providing the FAA with the resources it needs for its important work.”

— United Airlines

“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.”

— Federal Aviation Administration

What’s next

The FAA has agreed to implement the recommendations from the audit, including reevaluating staffing rules, conducting an independent workplace survey of inspector workloads and office culture, and improving training on accessing and using United's safety data.

The takeaway

This audit highlights the critical need for the FAA to have sufficient resources and staffing to properly oversee the maintenance operations of major airlines like United. Inadequate oversight can lead to safety risks and incidents, underscoring the importance of the FAA having the capacity to conduct thorough, on-site inspections and maintain institutional knowledge about airline operations.