United grounds all Boeing 777s

0 Comments | USA TODAY, April, 2008 | by Marilyn Adams

United Airlines on Wednesday abruptly grounded all its Boeing 777 jets and canceled dozens of flights in the USA and abroad after discovering that mechanics failed to test a fire-suppression device as required.

The disruption was at least the fourth time in three weeks that a major U.S. airline canceled flights to perform government-required safety inspections or maintenance that was not done or was done improperly.

United spokeswoman Jean Medina said United officials late Tuesday discovered the failure to do routine tests on the fire-suppression device in the 777 cargo hold and decided to ground the fleet until the required tests could be completed.

Among the United 777 flights affected Wednesday was a charter carrying the White House press corps...