Register
News

United Pilot’s Lawsuit After Hard-Landing Incident Thrown Out by Federal Judge

2023 incident resulted in a buckling of the Boeing 767’s fuselage.

Ryan Ewing
Verified
Edited By: Ryan Ewing
United Boeing 767
A United Boeing 767-300. [Shutterstock | Michael Derrer Fuchs]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A federal judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by former United Airlines pilot Romullo Tadeu Melo Silva, who alleged the airline falsely reported his role in a July 2023 hard landing incident.
  • Silva claimed United's report to the FAA, following an incident where a Boeing 767 was damaged and he was subsequently terminated, tarnished his record and prevented him from securing new pilot employment.
  • The judge ruled against Silva due to insufficient information about the alleged defamatory report, the qualified privilege of communications to government agencies, and Silva's failure to prove United acted with malice.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former United Arilines pilot Romullo Tadeu Melo Silva, who claimed the airline defamed him following a hard-landing incident that damaged a Boeing 767-300 aircraft in Houston.

On July 29, 2023, United Flight 702, operating from Newark, New Jersey, to Houston, experienced what the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later classified as a “hard landing” at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (KIAH).

Ryan Ewing

Ryan is Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group, overseeing a portfolio that includes FLYING, AirlineGeeks, AVweb, Plane + Pilot, KITPLANES, and AircraftForSale.com. He founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has more than a decade of experience across aviation media, airport operations, airline workforce planning, and Part 135 regulatory compliance. His experience ranges from time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing aviation industry executives. Ryan holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and is an adjunct instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE