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Published on January 13, 2025
United Flight from Pennsylvania to Chicago Makes Safe Emergency Landing in Detroit After Pressurization IssueSource: Wikipedia/en:User:Dehk deekster(at)gmail [dot] com, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A United Airlines flight en route from Pennsylvania to Chicago encountered a mechanical issue that necessitated an unscheduled landing in Detroit yesterday. Flight 4166, servicing the Allentown to Chicago route, was diverted after experiencing a pressurization issue mid-flight. According to reports from CBS News, the plane, which was initially scheduled to land at O'Hare International Airport at 8:44 a.m., made its landing at Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport approximately at 7:20 a.m.

Details from the Detroit Free Press reveal the Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, operated by GoJet Airlines on behalf of United, descended swiftly from its cruising altitude of 40,000 feet to 10,000 feet within a span of less than 10 minutes. The aircraft was flying over northern Ohio when, between 7:47 a.m and 7:48 a.m., it lost over 6,000 feet, as recorded by online flight tracking resource FlightAware.

Despite the rapid descent and potential for panic, a passenger on board remarked on the crew's competence in a post on an unspecified platform. As they approached Detroit, the flight crew assured air traffic controllers that the situation was stable, and the aircraft landed safely shortly thereafter. Following the incident, GoJet Airlines' Liz Dray confirmed through an email to MCall that there were no reports of injuries among the 43 passengers and three crew members aboard the flight.

After being grounded for several hours, Flight 4166 departed from Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport earlier today. It later completed its journey, touching down in Chicago at 3:05 p.m., as reported by CBS News. The exact cause behind the loss of cabin pressure remains under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration. As part of the ongoing inquiry, United Airlines has yet to release a public statement addressing the incident.