Boeing 737 Max Planes Grounded for Safety Inspections
Federal officials have mandated an immediate grounding of certain Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft for inspections following a recent incident involving an Alaska Airlines jet.
Cameron Jordan
- 2024-01-06
- Updated 04:55 PM ET
(NewsNibs) - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency order requiring immediate checks on Max 9 planes operated by U.S. airlines or on U.S. soil by foreign carriers. This order impacts approximately 171 planes globally. The decision came after an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 experienced a window panel blowout shortly after departing from Portland, Oregon. Despite the cabin pressure loss and deployment of oxygen masks, the 171 passengers and six crew members on board reported no injuries. The aircraft was able to make a safe emergency landing.
Alaska Airlines Responds to Safety Concerns
In response to the incident, Alaska Airlines promptly grounded its fleet of 65 Max 9s for inspections, expecting to carry out the task within a matter of days. Already, over a quarter of the fleet has undergone scrutiny, revealing no pressing issues. Nevertheless, as a consequence of the grounding, the airline cancelled over 100 flights, dialing back about 14% of its schedule. Meanwhile, United Airlines, after inspecting 33 of its 79 Max 9s, confirmed around 60 flight cancellations. The FAA together with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is probing the incident, while Boeing extended its support for the FAA’s decision, contributing technical assistance.
Continued Safety and Brand Concerns for Boeing
While the investigation continues into the cause of the blowout—specifically in a section where an emergency exit would be in configurations not utilized by Alaska—the long-term impact on Boeing's brand remains uncertain. The blowout occurred on a relatively new Boeing 737 Max 9, which had been in service since November and completed 145 flights. The episode is the latest in a series of setbacks for the Max series, including two fatal crashes of the Max 8 variant in 2018 and 2019 that led to a global fleet grounding. Boeing, under intense scrutiny, made changes to a key flight control system and, in 2021, settled with the FAA for $2.5 billion for deceiving regulators. Although Boeing has incurred over $20 billion in costs due to the fallout, it has continued to sell Max aircraft as airlines seek newer, more fuel-efficient models. Most families of the crash victims have reached confidential settlements with the aerospace giant, even as various production and technical challenges persist.
Despite recent events highlighting ongoing concerns, the Boeing Max series continues to fly, reflecting the aviation industry's complex balance between innovation, safety, and economic pressures. The incident with Alaska Air's Boeing 737 Max 9 adds another chapter to the narrative of this aircraft model as both industry and regulatory bodies strive to maintain the confidence of the flying public.
