United Airlines blames Boeing problems for $200m hit to earnings

Carrier says three-week grounding of 737 Max 9 planes after Alaska Airlines blowout cost it profit

United Airlines has blamed a $200m (161m) hit to its earnings in the first three months of the year on the mid-flight blowout that forced it to ground many of its Boeing planes.

The US carrier said the three-week grounding of 737 Max 9 jets after a cabin panel blew out on a flight operated by rival Alaska Airlines at the start of January contributed to a $124m loss in the three months to the end of March.