US aviation regulators have introduced additional requirements for Boeing Co. as a condition for allowing its 737 Max 9 jets to resume service. These new requirements indicate a growing firmness in the government's stance towards the aerospace company following a recent accident. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated that it needs more data from Boeing before approving inspection and maintenance procedures that airlines must complete before resuming flights. The agency specifically wants to review the results of the initial round of checks on plug doors in 40 planes to determine if the steps are suitable for the entire fleet of grounded jets.
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker emphasized the agency's dedication to passenger safety, saying, "We are working to make sure nothing like this happens again." He added that the Boeing 737 Max 9 will not be allowed to fly until the FAA is entirely satisfied with its safety. Boeing declined to comment on the FAA's new requirements.
This development highlights the mounting crisis faced by Boeing following the incident where a fuselage panel detached from a Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines shortly after takeoff. Although there were no major injuries, this incident is the latest in a series of quality lapses that have brought scrutiny to Boeing's manufacturing process.
The additional review by the FAA could potentially extend the grounding of the 737 Max 9, which has already been grounded for almost a week. Preliminary inspections conducted by United Airlines and Alaska Air since the incident have revealed loose bolts on some of their Max 9 aircraft. In response to these concerns, the FAA initiated a formal investigation into Boeing's manufacturing operations on Thursday. The agency also announced additional measures on Friday to strengthen its oversight of the company.
Airlines operating the Max 9 jets are still waiting for the FAA's approval in order to begin the required inspections and resume flights. Consequently, carriers like United, the largest operator of the Max 9 in the US, have had to cancel hundreds of flights. Alaska Airlines announced on Friday that it would cancel all scheduled flights on the aircraft until at least January 14. Furthermore, United Airlines stated late on Friday that it would be extending its cancellations for Max 9 flights until January 16, and even removing some flights in the following days.