Passenger Parker Pitman shared his experience of a United Airlines Boeing 777 Transatlantic flight from Paris to Washington, DC where an automated announcement instructed passengers to put on oxygen masks. Despite cabin pressure being normal the entire time, some passengers panicked and tried to force open ceiling compartments. One passenger even had a panic attack and attempted to open the aircraft door, causing confusion among passengers and crew. Flight attendants announced difficulty contacting the pilots, but passengers eventually learned that the 26-year-old aircraft was not in trouble and the flight continued as scheduled to Washington, DC, and then on to its next destination.
The incident occurred during a flight from Paris to Washington, DC with passengers being told to wait for oxygen masks to fall from the ceiling and then put them on, although few if any masks actually deployed. The United Airlines spokesperson stated that only a small number of oxygen masks inadvertently deployed. The airline has faced scrutiny from regulators this year due to safety incidents leading to restrictions on launching new routes. Although the airline recently indicated a return to normal operations, the Federal Aviation Administration stated that their ongoing review continues. Despite initial panic among some passengers, it was later confirmed that cabin pressure in the plane was normal and that the aircraft landed safely with passengers deplaning normally.
