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Temporary Grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 9
In response to a concerning in-flight occurrence, a top U.S. aviation regulator has temporarily grounded certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft for safety evaluations. The incident involved a panel from the cabin blowing out and forcing an Alaska Airlines-operated plane to make an emergency landing.
Details About the Incident
After taking off from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California, a part of the fuselage detached from the left side of the aircraft. This forced the pilots to perform an emergency landing. No injuries were reported among the 171 passengers and six crew aboard the Alaska Airlines flight. The plane had only been in service for a mere eight weeks.
Possible Impacts on Boeing
The FAA's decision doesn't equate to an indefinite grounding comparable to the almost two-year ban on all MAX- family jets that occurred nearly five years ago. However, it still presents a significant challenge for Boeing as it is currently mired in numerous crises.
Action Taken by the FAA
Federal Aviation Administration head, Mike Whitaker, explained on Saturday that the FAA has issued a directive for immediate inspections of particular Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes. Boeing has given its backing to this measure.
Airline Response to the FAA Directive
Following the announcement by the FAA, Alaska Airlines has grounded its Boeing MAX 9 fleet of 65 planes pending safety inspections. Meanwhile, United Airlines, another MAX 9 user, has also suspended service on around 45 of their aircraft for the same checks.
Ongoing Investigation and Boeing's Efforts
While there is yet to be any clarity as to what led to Friday's structural failure, investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, Boeing is actively engaging with the affected carrier and gathering more details on the incident.
Production Concerns
The incident also brings to focus major production and quality issues that Boeing and key suppliers have been grappling with. This incident, coupled with the past history of the 737 MAX model, raises significant questions.
