An investigation has been launched by federal investigators in the United States (U.S.) regarding the mid-flight detonation of a section of the new Boeing 737 MAX 9. As a result, airlines in Türkiye and Panama have grounded their aircraft for inspection.
This grounding has now expanded to the rest of the world, causing the cancellation of numerous flights. The decision to ground the planes came after an Alaska Airlines aircraft broke apart shortly after takeoff. Several major airlines, including United Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Aeromexico, and Panama’s Copa Airlines, have parked their Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes and are conducting inspections in accordance with directives from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
No impact on UAE national companies from aircraft technical flaw
However, the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has stated that their national airlines are not affected by the technical issue with the Boeing 737 MAX 9. The FAA has temporarily suspended flights of this aircraft model for safety checks following the mid-flight explosion.
Local media reported that low-budget airline flydubai has confirmed that their three Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes are not affected by the FAA’s decision. The FAA has ordered immediate inspections for 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes and has prohibited them from flying until the inspections are completed, which is estimated to take between 4 and 8 hours per aircraft.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has confirmed that it will adhere to the recommendations of the U.S., stating that there will be no impact as no European operators use the 737 MAX 9 with the specific design options involved. The agency, based in Cologne, Germany, said these aircraft can continue to operate normally.
Singapore Airlines has also noted that they have not used this aircraft type and therefore have no concerns regarding the situation.
The incident took place on Saturday when an Alaska Airlines flight departed from Portland International Airport in Oregon, U.S., en route to Ontario, California.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has reported that the door became detached from the cabin mid-flight, with the aircraft carrying 171 passengers and 6 crew members at an altitude of 5,000 meters.
Read more: Saudi Arabia nearing $35 bn Boeing aircraft contract
Minor injuries
NTSB has revealed that the cause of the incident is attributed to a hidden airtight door behind a barrier that obstructs the view of the window. This option was offered by Boeing to customers upon request.
The FAA’s guidelines also include forms for reporting instances of a “door plug,” as mentioned on their website.
The aircraft was able to safely return and land approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, resulting in only a few minor injuries.
The NTSB has dispatched a team to Portland to investigate the root cause of the malfunction.
United Airlines, which operates the largest fleet of 737-9 aircraft in the world, has decided to ground 46 planes, 33 of which have already undergone inspection.
Prior to these directives, Alaska Airlines had voluntarily grounded its entire fleet of 65 planes on Saturday, but no concerning issues have been discovered so far.
Copa Airlines and Turkish Airlines have also temporarily suspended operations of their 21 and 5 aircraft respectively for further verification. Kyle Rinker, a passenger on the flight, shared with CNN that the incident was incredibly surprising, as the plane nearly reached the window before the section detached.
The seats adjacent to the detached section were unoccupied, according to the NTSB, but The Oregonian, a newspaper in Portland, quoted passengers saying that a teenager sitting nearby had his shirt torn due to the sudden decrease in pressure, resulting in minor injuries.
Terrible accident
U.S. Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg took to Twitter to comment on the “terrible accident.”
Jennifer Homendy, chair of NTSB, expressed gratitude that the incident did not result in a tragedy.
Homendy said preliminary data suggested that the door fell over Cedar Hills, a suburb in Portland. She further urged the public to inform authorities if they come across the door.
According to Federal Aviation Administration records available online, the aircraft received accreditation in November.
Boeing agrees with the FAA’s decision to mandate immediate inspections of similar 737-9 aircraft with the same design as the affected plane.
This incident occurs in the wake of previous technical failures experienced by the airline, including the crashes of two Boeing 737 Max.
Boeing has recently faced delivery delays due to airframe issues, particularly in the back section.
Moreover, as of the end of December, Boeing has delivered over 1,370 737 Max jets and has received orders for 4,000 more.
For more news on logistics, click here.
