That airplane snitched on that crew when this incident happened via FOQA datalinks. The 777 is equipped with a real time data modem via Inmarsat that sends back to the United operations home base data on each flight. The SFO United chief pilot was probably waiting for them at the gate when they landed. Airlines will use FOQA data to notify them when overspeed actions or other quality problems occur in flight and will ding the pilots. It's very common.
Also, spacial disorientation is a thing, and the body doesn't typically sense falling very well without visual cues. It is entirely possible that the drop coupled with turbulence on the climb out didn't register with passengers (nor the pilots!) as much as you think. If you've ever experienced unusual attitude recovery training as a pilot, you'll know that it's somewhat shocking what your body is telling vs what you see when you pull your head up and look outside. It is a jarring experience when you learn that your body is straight up lying to you.
Noticeable, but not translatable into any sort of spacial awareness. I'm a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, but as a passenger with the only information being a sequence of variable forces, I absolutely can't tell you what our orientation is at the end of that sequence.
~2.6G is a severe hard landing. A 60-degree bank in level flight produces 2G's. One is really jolting because it happens in an instant, the other is certainly noticeable but also a more docile because it happens over time. If the 2.7G force is over a few seconds, my guess is I'd associate it with moderate to severe turbulence and not give it
another thought. Do we know the duration of these forces?
Edit: Also from Avherald, Simon writes From my editorial point of view it is clear however, that the occurrence did not happen along the lines of the report that surfaced on Sunday. And I tend to agree with that, the original reporting is confused how serious the event was. Something happened, pilots self-reported, and received training.
Also, spacial disorientation is a thing, and the body doesn't typically sense falling very well without visual cues. It is entirely possible that the drop coupled with turbulence on the climb out didn't register with passengers (nor the pilots!) as much as you think. If you've ever experienced unusual attitude recovery training as a pilot, you'll know that it's somewhat shocking what your body is telling vs what you see when you pull your head up and look outside. It is a jarring experience when you learn that your body is straight up lying to you.