The Near Disaster of United Airlines Flight 1722: A Cautionary Tale
On December 18, 2022, just days before Christmas, United Airlines flight 1722 faced an unprecedented calamity shortly after taking off from Maui, Hawaii. With 271 passengers and a crew of 10 onboard, the Boeing 777 rapidly descended toward the Pacific Ocean just moments into its five-hour journey to San Francisco. This harrowing incident underscores the critical importance of communication and situation awareness within the cockpit, highlighting how confusion and distraction can lead to catastrophic consequences.
The day began like any other, but the pilots had already been briefed on the severe weather conditions plaguing Hawaii. The captain, a veteran pilot with nearly 20,000 flight hours, and the first officer, a newcomer with limited experience, were acutely aware of the challenges posed by potential wind shear — a dangerous phenomenon where wind speed and direction change rapidly, posing a significant threat during takeoff and landing.
As the aircraft pushed back from the gate, the weather radar confirmed the pilots' fears: conditions were unsettled, and they needed to be in high alert. In an attempt to enhance safety, the captain decided to extend the flaps to 20 degrees for takeoff instead of the usual 15 degrees, allowing for a more controlled ascent amidst potential turbulence.
At approximately 2:45 PM, the plane lined up on the runway with rain reducing visibility. However, the takeoff progressed smoothly as the captain applied maximum thrust. For the first few seconds, everything seemed normal — but that would soon change. During this critical phase, the first officer, who was primarily responsible for coordinating communications and clearing the aircraft for ascent, was preparing to retract the flaps as per the standard procedure.
However, this particular flight was proceeding under unusually high power due to the anticipated weather challenges, and this deviation from routine caught the crew off guard.
As the aircraft soared to approximately 1,000 feet, the first officer raised the flaps to 15 degrees, believing he was following the captain's instructions. However, unbeknownst to him, the captain had anticipated lowering them to 5 degrees instead, leading to a critical disconnect.
The captain, who was already fixating on the aircraft's accelerating airspeed and possible overspeed condition, failed to recognize the aircraft's true flap configuration. A pivotal miscommunication ensued, creating a dangerous scenario where the captain's perception of the aircraft’s configuration diverged from reality.
Upon realizing the aircraft was accelerating dangerously beyond the limits for the extended flaps, the captain ordered the first officer to retract them to 5 degrees. But by then, the plane had already dropped its nose significantly — a sign that it was entering a rapid descent. As the aircraft pitched down with an alarming rate of 8,000 feet per minute, the cockpit transformed into a scene of confusion.
The first officer struggled to understand the captain's actions; the plane was supposed to climb, not plunge. Their instruments showed a dire picture, with both pilots now aware that the aircraft was merely seconds away from crashing into the ocean.
In the midst of this chaos, just a few hundred feet above the ocean, the first officer yelled for the captain to pull up. With limited time to act, the captain yanked back on the control column — a desperate move that pulled the massive aircraft away from the brink of disaster.
As the plane once again pointed skyward, the pilots regained tenuous control, shifting into a climb at breakneck speed. The passengers, largely unaware of the crisis unfolding in the cockpit, were thrown violently against their seats amidst the shrieks of alarm and the roar of the engines.
Once safely back in the air, the crew resumed their planned route to San Francisco without informing anyone onboard about the close call. Upon landing, the incident was reported only internally, and it went largely unnoticed until months later when aviation enthusiasts stumbled upon the details. Remarkably, the incident did not meet the reporting criteria for the National Transportation Safety Board, sparking concerns over a broader systemic issue in pilot training and airline practices.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of how critical situational awareness and clear communication are in aviation. It highlights that even experienced pilots can lose control due to miscommunication and confusion exacerbated by pressure-filled environments, particularly under challenging weather conditions.
Conclusion: A Call for Change
Flight 1722's near-disaster could have led to one of the worst aviation tragedies in U.S. history had the captain reacted even slightly later to the unfolding situation. As the aviation community reflects on this incident, questions arise regarding the measures in place to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The aviation industry must work diligently to address and learn from these critical errors to ensure that safety remains paramount. The story of United Airlines flight 1722 is not just a tale of near disaster; it is an urgent call for awareness, training, and communication in the cockpit — for the lives of all who fly depend upon it.
Part 1/9:
The Near Disaster of United Airlines Flight 1722: A Cautionary Tale
On December 18, 2022, just days before Christmas, United Airlines flight 1722 faced an unprecedented calamity shortly after taking off from Maui, Hawaii. With 271 passengers and a crew of 10 onboard, the Boeing 777 rapidly descended toward the Pacific Ocean just moments into its five-hour journey to San Francisco. This harrowing incident underscores the critical importance of communication and situation awareness within the cockpit, highlighting how confusion and distraction can lead to catastrophic consequences.
A Routine Flight Takes an Unusual Turn
Part 2/9:
The day began like any other, but the pilots had already been briefed on the severe weather conditions plaguing Hawaii. The captain, a veteran pilot with nearly 20,000 flight hours, and the first officer, a newcomer with limited experience, were acutely aware of the challenges posed by potential wind shear — a dangerous phenomenon where wind speed and direction change rapidly, posing a significant threat during takeoff and landing.
As the aircraft pushed back from the gate, the weather radar confirmed the pilots' fears: conditions were unsettled, and they needed to be in high alert. In an attempt to enhance safety, the captain decided to extend the flaps to 20 degrees for takeoff instead of the usual 15 degrees, allowing for a more controlled ascent amidst potential turbulence.
Part 3/9:
The Takeoff: An Initial Success
At approximately 2:45 PM, the plane lined up on the runway with rain reducing visibility. However, the takeoff progressed smoothly as the captain applied maximum thrust. For the first few seconds, everything seemed normal — but that would soon change. During this critical phase, the first officer, who was primarily responsible for coordinating communications and clearing the aircraft for ascent, was preparing to retract the flaps as per the standard procedure.
However, this particular flight was proceeding under unusually high power due to the anticipated weather challenges, and this deviation from routine caught the crew off guard.
The Miscommunication Crisis
Part 4/9:
As the aircraft soared to approximately 1,000 feet, the first officer raised the flaps to 15 degrees, believing he was following the captain's instructions. However, unbeknownst to him, the captain had anticipated lowering them to 5 degrees instead, leading to a critical disconnect.
The captain, who was already fixating on the aircraft's accelerating airspeed and possible overspeed condition, failed to recognize the aircraft's true flap configuration. A pivotal miscommunication ensued, creating a dangerous scenario where the captain's perception of the aircraft’s configuration diverged from reality.
The Descent Begins
Part 5/9:
Upon realizing the aircraft was accelerating dangerously beyond the limits for the extended flaps, the captain ordered the first officer to retract them to 5 degrees. But by then, the plane had already dropped its nose significantly — a sign that it was entering a rapid descent. As the aircraft pitched down with an alarming rate of 8,000 feet per minute, the cockpit transformed into a scene of confusion.
The first officer struggled to understand the captain's actions; the plane was supposed to climb, not plunge. Their instruments showed a dire picture, with both pilots now aware that the aircraft was merely seconds away from crashing into the ocean.
A Miraculous Recovery
Part 6/9:
In the midst of this chaos, just a few hundred feet above the ocean, the first officer yelled for the captain to pull up. With limited time to act, the captain yanked back on the control column — a desperate move that pulled the massive aircraft away from the brink of disaster.
As the plane once again pointed skyward, the pilots regained tenuous control, shifting into a climb at breakneck speed. The passengers, largely unaware of the crisis unfolding in the cockpit, were thrown violently against their seats amidst the shrieks of alarm and the roar of the engines.
Aftermath and Lessons for the Future
Part 7/9:
Once safely back in the air, the crew resumed their planned route to San Francisco without informing anyone onboard about the close call. Upon landing, the incident was reported only internally, and it went largely unnoticed until months later when aviation enthusiasts stumbled upon the details. Remarkably, the incident did not meet the reporting criteria for the National Transportation Safety Board, sparking concerns over a broader systemic issue in pilot training and airline practices.
Part 8/9:
This incident serves as a stark reminder of how critical situational awareness and clear communication are in aviation. It highlights that even experienced pilots can lose control due to miscommunication and confusion exacerbated by pressure-filled environments, particularly under challenging weather conditions.
Conclusion: A Call for Change
Flight 1722's near-disaster could have led to one of the worst aviation tragedies in U.S. history had the captain reacted even slightly later to the unfolding situation. As the aviation community reflects on this incident, questions arise regarding the measures in place to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Part 9/9:
The aviation industry must work diligently to address and learn from these critical errors to ensure that safety remains paramount. The story of United Airlines flight 1722 is not just a tale of near disaster; it is an urgent call for awareness, training, and communication in the cockpit — for the lives of all who fly depend upon it.