U.S. authorities have announced that certain Boeing jets will remain grounded until further deemed safe to fly, following a recent incident where a panel detached from a new Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet during a flight. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had already grounded 171 Boeing planes fitted with the same panel after the plane's emergency landing. The affected jets will stay grounded until the FAA is satisfied with their safety, according to a statement released on Sunday.
The incident occurred when a panel, known as a door plug, blew off the left side of an Alaska Airlines jet soon after takeoff from Portland, Oregon. Pilots were forced to turn back and safely land the plane with all passengers and crew onboard. The missing panel, which was installed on some planes as an alternative to an extra emergency exit, is believed to have fallen somewhere in the western suburbs of Portland, but it has not yet been located. Authorities have reached out to the public for help in finding the missing piece.
This incident has once again put Boeing under scrutiny as it awaits certification for its smaller MAX 7 and larger MAX 10 models, crucial for competing with a popular Airbus model. The majority of MAX 9 jets in use in the United States are operated by United Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Turkish Airlines, Copa Airlines from Panama, and Aeromexico have also grounded their MAX 9 planes for inspections.
Airlines are now required to inspect the affected panel and perform any necessary repairs. Before the planes can resume operations, the FAA must approve Boeing's detailed inspection criteria. However, as of now, it remains uncertain whether the FAA will give the green light on Sunday.
In response to the grounding, Alaska Airlines has stopped using 18 MAX 9 planes that it had previously resumed using after maintenance checks were conducted following the initial FAA order. The airline has already canceled 163 flights, resulting in travel disruptions expected to last through mid-week. United Airlines has also canceled 230 flights, accounting for 8% of its scheduled departures on Sunday.
Although the investigation is ongoing and it is too early to determine the exact cause, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy has stated that the incident was likely a terrifying event. She mentioned that it was fortunate that the incident did not lead to a more tragic outcome. NTSB has launched an investigation and will determine the factors contributing to the detachment of the fuselage portion.
The panel in question, which serves as an additional exit door, is typically used by low-cost airlines with more seats that require extra evacuation routes. However, on jets with fewer seats, the additional exits are plugged and appear like regular window seats to passengers.
The fuselage for Boeing 737s is manufactured by Spirit AeroSystems, a company that separated from Boeing in 2005. Spirit AeroSystems manufactured and installed the panel that detached during the flight. Boeing, which removes the semi-fitted left-side door panel during the installation process, may also have a role to play. Investigators will examine possible installation flaws at both Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing plants.
Both Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems have experienced production issues as the aerospace industry strives to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2021, Boeing advised airlines to inspect all 737 MAX jets for a potential loose bolt in the rudder control system.
Following the crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia about five years ago, which were linked to poorly designed cockpit software, causing 350 fatalities, MAX planes were globally grounded for 20 months. Currently, Boeing is increasing production to compete with Airbus, which is expected to confirm its position as the world's largest planemaker with 735 deliveries in 2023.