CHICAGO, March 18 (Reuters) - United Airlines is

reviewing recent safety incidents in which it has been involved

and using the insights to update safety training and procedures

for employees, CEO Scott Kirby said on Monday.

The Chicago-based airline has experienced several safety

emergencies in the past two weeks. Last Friday, an external

panel was found to missing from a United aircraft when it landed

in Oregon, prompting an investigation by the U.S. Federal

Aviation Administration.

Before that incident, a United Airlines-operated Boeing 737

MAX rolled onto the grass in Houston. A United-operated Boeing

777-200 bound for Japan also lost a tire after takeoff from San

Francisco and was diverted to Los Angeles, where it landed

safely.

In a message to United's customers, Kirby expressed

confidence that the airline would learn the "right lessons" and

"continue to run an operation that puts safety first."

"While they are all unrelated, I want you to know that these

incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus," he

said.

Kirby said United plans to have an extra day of in-person

training for all pilots starting in May, and a centralized

training curriculum for new-hire maintenance technicians.

The airline is dedicating more resources to supplier network

management and encouraging employees to flag safety-related

issues, he said.

"Safety is our highest priority and is at the center of

everything we do," Kirby said.

In the aftermath of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737

MAX 9 mid-air emergency prompted by a door plug blowout, U.S.

aviation incidents are getting more attention.

Boeing has been under heavy regulatory scrutiny after the

Jan. 5 Alaska Airlines incident, with inquiries into the

company's safety and quality standards in its production

process.