LOA 22 - Safety Investigations

THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT

between UNITED AIR LINES, INC.

and

THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

in the service of UNITED AIR LINES, INC.

as represented by

THE ASSOCIATION of FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

This Letter Of Agreement is made and entered into in accordance with the Railway Labor Act by and between United Airlines, Inc. (the “Company”) and the Association of Flight Attendants - CWA, AFL-CIO (the “Union”).

WHEREAS The Company and the Union are committed to a culture focused on the safe operation of every flight, every day; and 

WHEREAS The Company and the Union recognize that from time to time safety incidents may occur; and 

WHEREAS The Company and the Union are committed to working collaboratively for a shared safety purpose; and 

WHEREAS When these incidents occur, The Company and the Union will thoroughly investigate these incidents as warranted in a timely manner to understand what happened and why it happened, and take corrective actions, if necessary, to prevent a future occurrence,

NOW THEREFORE, the parties to this Letter of Agreement hereby establish the following protocols for conducting investigations designed to ensure the Company and the Union:

• Obtain all information required by UA, FAA, NTSB and foreign government agencies 

• Establish a standardized de-briefing procedure

• Define roles and responsibilities 

• Sets consistent expectations as to investigation process

Roles and Responsibilities

Aviation Safety Department

The Aviation Safety Department is responsible to monitor flight operations to assess events and determine if a United Flight Safety Investigation will be launched. Aviation Safety then conducts a thorough, independent investigation of these accidents/incidents and serves as United’s focal point and Party Coordinator to the NTSB and technical advisor to the NTSB for foreign accident investigative authorities. 

Aviation Safety shall have the primary responsibility to determine if a Flight Safety Investigation (FSI) is warranted. If an investigation is warranted, Aviation Safety shall serve as the Investigator in Charge (IIC), coordinating the investigation according to these established protocols. Aviation Safety shall also be responsible for briefing the NTSB or foreign government agencies, as necessary; shall prepare a written Flight Safety Investigation report, including recommendations about how to avoid future incidents of the type investigated. When the focus of an investigation includes flight attendants or lnflight personnel, Aviation Safety shall also be responsible to review the draft investigation report with the lnflight Division and the AFA MEC Safety Chairperson or designee; however, such review will not delay timely submission of the final report and Aviation Safety is solely responsible for the final content of the Flight Safety Investigation report. 

The purpose of a Flight Safety Investigation is to identify and communicate hazards/threats, mitigate risk, prevent accidents, and promote safety awareness to the operating divisions and employees of United Airlines in support of the United Safety Management System (SMS) in support of United’s compliance with 14 CFR Part 5 ‘Safety Management Systems’. The information contained within shall not be used for disciplinary or punitive actions unless such information indicates criminal activity, substance abuse, use of a controlled substance, intentional falsification or intentional disregard for safety. 

Should Aviation Safety determine an investigation is not required, that determination will not prevent lnflight Services from conducting its own investigation. 

In the event of a government investigation, this process is subject to change as required by law, regulation, court order, or legally binding directives of responsible government agencies.

Inflight Services Division 

lnflight Services is responsible for the day-to-day management of United’s flight attendants, establishment of in-flight procedures, development of safety and emergency procedures, and training of flight attendants. As such, lnflight Safety will be responsible to: participate in, and provide support to, any investigation deemed warranted by Aviation Safety; participate as a working group member to any NTSB Survival Factors investigation, at the discretion of the NTSB; make recommendations with regard to corrective actions; review the final report; respond to Hazard Identifications, conduct as necessary hazard identifications regarding issues related to lnflight Services, make any necessary changes to procedures and training in order to seek to avoid a future incident of the type investigated, and notify Aviation Safety of corrective actions or changes implemented. With input from AFA, lnflight Services shall also be solely responsible for determining if individual flight attendant corrective action is required. 

Should Aviation Safety determine that an investigation is not required, lnflight Services will review the incident and conduct any necessary investigation according to its own investigative procedures. If lnflight Services determines an investigation is warranted, lnflight Safety will partner with the Union MEC Safety Chair or designee in the debrief of flight attendants. The information pertinent to the safety operations of the flight attendants obtained through the investigation shall not be used for disciplinary actions unless such information indicates criminal activity, substance abuse, use of a controlled substance, intentional falsification or intentional disregard for safety. 

lnflight Safety, in coordination with the lnflight Duty Manager and base management, is responsible for making arrangements relating to crew disposition, such as removing a crew from assigned flying, assessing the crew’s emotional state, coordinating EAP support, etc. 

lnflight Safety and/or lnflight base management shall also be responsible to take appropriate systemic corrective action based on the recommendations from lnflight Services leadership following review of the Flight Safety Investigation report.

Association of Flight Attendants 

The Association of Flight Attendants (“the Union”) is the legal bargaining representative for United Airlines flight attendants. As such, the Union will be responsible to participate in, and provide support to, any investigation deemed warranted by Aviation Safety; apply for NTSB Party status and participate as a working group member to any NTSB Survival Factors investigation, at the discretion of the NTSB; make recommendations with regard to corrective actions; and review the final Flight Safety Investigation report. 

Should Aviation Safety determine that an investigation is not required, lnflight Services will review the incident and conduct any necessary investigation according to its own investigative procedures. If lnflight Services determines an investigation is warranted, lnflight Safety will partner with the Union MEC Safety Chair or designee in the debrief of flight attendants. At the conclusion of an investigation, lnflight Safety will consider the input of the union as part of the hazard identification process. 

Investigation of Accidents/Incidents - Flight Attendant Debriefing 

In the event of an accident/incident, the Director of System Network Control (NOC) is responsible for notifying Aviation Safety and lnflight Safety of events involving cabin safety (e.g. turbulence injuries, cabin fires, etc.). The Company shall promptly notify the Union in accordance with 19.B.1 of the JCBA. 

When Aviation Safety determines that an investigation is warranted, lnflight Safety will coordinate with base management and/or the lnflight Duty Manager to arrange for the flight attendants involved and the Union to participate in the debriefing, either face-to-face or via telephonic conference call, at a time and date specified by Aviation and lnflight Safety, and in coordination with AFA. 

The Flight Safety Investigation flight attendant debriefing will be led by the Aviation Safety Investigator in Charge (IIC), assisted by a representative from lnflight Safety and the Union MEC Safety Chair or designee. Other subject matter experts may also attend at the   request of the IIC, lnflight Services or the Union, but attendees must be approved by the IIC.

The flight attendant debriefing will be conducted as a fact-finding meeting, with crewmembers providing their recollection of events as a means of understanding what occurred. The flight attendants will also be encouraged to identify methods to prevent a recurrence of the accident/incident. While preferable to conduct a single crew de-briefing, additional de-briefings may be conducted if deemed necessary. 

Upon the conclusion of the investigation, lnflight Safety, the flight attendants involved and the Union shall be informed that the investigation has been concluded. 

A copy of the final Flight Safety Investigation report will be provided to lnflight Safety and the Union MEC Safety Chair or designee. lnflight Safety will brief the Senior Vice PresidenWice President of lnflight Services on the final investigation. The Union MEC Safety Chair will brief the MEC President or designee on the final investigation. Distribution of Flight Safety Investigation reports is limited to the Union MEC Safety Chair and Vice-Chairperson(s), lnflight Safety, the Senior Vice PresidenWice President of lnflight and the MEC President or designee. Distribution to any other individual or group is strictly prohibited without the express written consent of the Managing Director of Aviation Safety. 

The parties hereto have signed this Letter of Agreement this 31st day of May, 2026.