This footage was filmed and produced 19 February 2024.

United Airlines Flight 123 from San Francisco to Boston had an unexpected detour on February 19 evening when pieces of the wing were discovered to be broken mid-flight. Passengers, including Kevin Clarke, a play-by-play announcer for World Pro Ski Tour, recounted a harrowing experience as the pilot made the decision to divert to Denver.

According to Clarke, the pilot came through the aisle to assess the damage before deciding to land in Denver. The issue was later identified as a problem with a wing slat, a critical part of the aircraft that helps with landing at a slower speed.

Despite the turbulence and uncertainty, experts like Kevin Kuhlmann, chair of the Aviation and Aerospace Division at Metropolitan State University of Denver, explained that the damage did not pose an immediate threat to safety. The decision to continue to Denver was likely due to the availability of maintenance crews and resources at the airport.

The plane landed safely in Denver, and passengers were moved to a different aircraft to continue their journey to Boston.

While the incident was unsettling for those on board, experts like Kuhlmann reassured that pilots are trained to handle unexpected situations like these, even if they may not train for the exact scenario that occurred on Monday. United Airlines confirmed that the broken wing slat was being inspected by maintenance crews in Denver.