What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Narrative: while showing videos for safety the flight attendants at united position themselves alongside the screens to get the passnegers attention. The rear galley was therefore not manned during the start, thus the passenger sealed in the rear most left side of economy cabin was able to access the L2 exit and initiate evacuation without meeting resistance from a flight attendant. (The f/a's were about 20 feet forward at the screen). The passengers action was sudden and impulsive so even if a flight attendant was in the rear galley area it is doubtful whether the passenger could have been stopped in time. Other passengers heard subject passenger yell "fire" and demanded that the other doors be opened. The captain was notified (to his surprise) that evacuation was taking place. He had no choice but to allow it to continue. 2 passengers had minor injuries. The engine (no.2) was changed. Subsequently and new slides were ordered. A/c was out of service for 24 hours.
As the FAA filed it
NARRATIVE: WHILE SHOWING VIDEOS FOR SAFETY THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS AT UNITED POSITION THEMSELVES ALONGSIDE THE SCREENS TO GET THE PASSNEGERS ATTENTION. THE REAR GALLEY WAS THEREFORE NOT MANNED DURING THE START, THUS THE PASSENGER SEALED IN THE REAR MOST LEFT SIDE OF ECONOMY CABIN WAS ABLE TO ACCESS THE L2 EXIT AND INITIATE EVACUATION WITHOUT MEETING RESISTANCE FROM A FLIGHT ATTENDANT. (THE F/A'S WERE ABOUT 20 FEET FORWARD AT THE SCREEN). THE PASSENGERS ACTION WAS SUDDEN AND IMPULSIVE SO EVEN IF A FLIGHT ATTENDANT WAS IN THE REAR GALLEY AREA IT IS DOUBTFUL WHETHER THE PASSENGER COULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED IN TIME. OTHER PASSENGERS HEARD SUBJECT PASSENGER YELL "FIRE" AND DEMANDED THAT THE OTHER DOORS BE OPENED. THE CAPTAIN WAS NOTIFIED (TO HIS SURPRISE) THAT EVACUATION WAS TAKING PLACE. HE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE. 2 PASSENGERS HAD MINOR INJURIES. THE ENGINE (NO.2) WAS CHANGED. SUBSEQUENTLY AND NEW SLIDES WERE ORDERED. A/C WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR 24 HOURS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N648UA · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.