Federal officials have ordered the immediate grounding of some Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners until they are inspected after an Alaska Airlines plane suffered a blowout that left a gaping hole in the side of the fuselage.
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The FAA Grounds Boeing 737 Max 9 Planes for Inspection After Mid-Flight Emergency
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered the grounding and immediate inspection of approximately 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft worldwide following a mid-flight emergency involving an Alaska Airlines plane. The incident occurred on Friday night, forcing the flight to make an abrupt landing in Portland, Oregon. The FAA’s administrator, Mike Whitaker, stated that certain Boeing 737 Max 9 planes must undergo inspections before they can resume flight.
Investigation and Grounding by Airlines
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also investigating the incident. Alaska Airlines immediately grounded its entire fleet of Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft and ordered inspections. United Airlines followed suit, temporarily grounding all 79 of its Boeing 737 Max 9 planes for mandated inspections. Southwest Airlines and American Airlines, however, do not carry the Boeing 737 Max 9s and have stated that their operations are unaffected.
International Response
India’s aviation regulator has also ordered immediate inspections of all Boeing Max 737 aircraft owned by domestic operators, although it is believed that none of these operators have the model involved in the Portland incident. This incident comes after the worldwide grounding of all Boeing Max planes in 2019 following two deadly crashes involving Max 8 jets.
Boeing’s Response
Boeing has expressed support for the FAA’s call for inspections and is cooperating with the NTSB’s investigation. The company has stated that safety is its top priority and regrets the impact this event has had on customers. In December, Boeing advised airlines to check their 737 Max jets for loose bolts after discovering improperly tightened nuts on at least two planes.
The Incident and Safety Concerns
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 experienced a midair emergency when a window and piece of fuselage broke off, resulting in a gaping hole on the plane’s left side. The aircraft quickly returned to Portland International Airport, and no casualties or serious injuries were reported. The airline is working with Boeing and regulators to determine the cause of the incident.
Inspections and Return to Service
Alaska Airlines has completed inspections on a portion of its Boeing 737 Max 9 planes and has not found any concerning issues. The airline plans to return the planes to service once all inspections are completed, which is expected to be within the next few days. The safety of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft has been under scrutiny since the deadly crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Investigations revealed flaws in the flight control system, known as MCAS, and a failure by Boeing to disclose critical changes to regulators.
Legal Settlement
In 2021, Boeing reached a settlement of over $2.5 billion to resolve criminal charges related to the crashes. The settlement includes a criminal penalty, a fund for the families of crash victims, and compensation for airlines that purchased the troubled 737 Max planes.