FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker announced that the agency's thorough review of the recent incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing jet has led to a decision to allow Boeing Max 9 planes to resume flights. This decision comes with stringent inspection requirements to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft.
Boeing has committed to working closely with the FAA, airlines, and other stakeholders to address the issue and facilitate the safe return of the grounded planes to service. The company emphasized its dedication to safety and quality, stating, "We will continue to cooperate fully and transparently with the FAA and follow their direction as we take action to strengthen safety and quality at Boeing."
The incident that triggered the grounding involved a door plug detachment from an Alaska Max 9 jet mid-flight. In response, the FAA mandated the grounding of most Max 9s and outlined a detailed inspection process for airlines. This process includes "detailed visual inspections" of door plugs and other components, adjustments to fasteners, and repairs to any identified damage.
United Airlines, which has the largest fleet of Max 9s, has already initiated preliminary preparations and inspections, anticipating a return to service beginning Sunday. The inspection process is comprehensive, involving the removal of interior panels, seats, and sidewall liners to access and inspect the door plugs and surrounding hardware.
The grounding of the Max 9s has had a significant operational and financial impact on airlines like Alaska and United, with hundreds of flights canceled and United projecting a financial loss in the first quarter of the year.
The FAA's decision aligns with a broader context of scrutiny and oversight. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., has engaged with Boeing CEO David Calhoun, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing safety and quality engineering. The Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee plans to hold hearings to investigate the safety lapses further.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also actively investigating the incident, focusing on the assembly and quality control processes at Boeing's 737 assembly factory. The FAA's involvement extends to examining Boeing and its suppliers' adherence to safety procedures during manufacturing.
As the Max 9s prepare to return to the skies, the industry's focus remains on ensuring the highest safety standards and restoring confidence in the aircraft's reliability.
