FAA Orders Inspections on Boeing 737 Max Jets After Cabin Incident
Some Boeing 737 Max airplanes are grounded for emergency inspections following an incident involving an Alaska Airlines jet.
Jamie Bailey
- 2024-01-06
- Updated 04:10 PM ET
(NewsNibs) - Federal aviation regulators issued an emergency order to inspect certain Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after an Alaska Airlines aircraft experienced an in-flight cabin pressure incident, resulting in a hole on its side. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directed immediate checks on approximately 171 Max 9 planes globally. The specific jet, which has been in use since November and has completed 145 flights, lost a window panel after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, causing rapid cabin depressurization. Thankfully, the event resulted in no injuries among the 174 passengers and crew members onboard as the pilots successfully completed an emergency landing.
Alaska Airlines Responds to the Incident
Following the cabin incident, Alaska Airlines proactively grounded its fleet of 65 Max 9 jets for required inspections, leading to the cancellation of over 100 flights. As investigations by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are underway, Boeing has acknowledged the incident and is in contact with the airline. Concurrently, India's aviation watchdog has mandated inspections on the emergency exits of the Max 8 variant, although it is unrelated to the Alaska Airlines occurrence.
Broader Challenges for the Boeing 737 Max Fleet
The 737 Max series, including the Max 8, 9, and 10 models, has faced significant scrutiny in recent years. Following two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019 involving the Max 8, the global fleet was grounded for nearly two years while Boeing revamped its flight control system. The company successfully resumed selling the Max jets after settling a criminal probe into the crashes for $2.5 billion and attributing the deception regarding system flaws to two employees. Despite these challenges and costs exceeding $20 billion, the Max series has encountered other issues unrelated to the recent Alaska Airlines event, including supplier problems and limitations on anti-ice system usage.
Safety Stays in the Spotlight
The continued focus on the safety of Boeing's 737 Max fleet is underscored by recent events and past tragedies. While the Alaska Airlines incident ended without injury, it has prompted a renewed emphasis on vigilance across the Max series. As Boeing, airline operators, and aviation authorities work to assure passenger safety, the outcomes of the ongoing investigations will likely inform future aerospace protocols and regulations.
