US Grounds Over 170 Boeing 737 MAX 9 Planes After Mid-Air Scare
Washington: The US air safety regulator announced on Saturday that it is grounding and ordering inspections on some Boeing 737 MAX 9 airplanes following a mid-air incident in which a window panel blew out over Oregon. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that immediate inspections are required before these planes can return to flight. The FAA will be inspecting around 171 aircraft worldwide, with each inspection taking between four to eight hours. The agency emphasized that safety is their top priority in making this decision.
Alaska and United Airlines have the largest number of MAX 9 planes in their fleet. Boeing has delivered a total of 218 737 MAX 9 planes so far. In response to the incident, Alaska Airlines grounded all 65 of its Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes after a flight had to make an emergency landing due to a pressurization issue. Passengers on the flight reported a window panel blowing out after takeoff, with images circulating on social media showing the blown-out window and emergency oxygen masks deployed.
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci stated that the entire fleet of 737-9 aircraft will only be returned to service after undergoing thorough maintenance and safety inspections. The National Transportation Safety Board, FAA, and Alaska Airlines are all conducting investigations into the incident.
Boeing, which has faced previous technical and quality control issues with its 737 MAX models, stated that it is gathering more information and is ready to support the investigation. The 737 MAX planes were grounded worldwide in 2019 after two crashes that claimed the lives of 346 people. The FAA approved their return to service after Boeing made necessary changes to the flight control system.
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