The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an order for the temporary grounding of certain Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after an Alaska Airlines flight experienced a cabin panel blowout during a recent flight.
The incident occurred on Friday, with approximately 180 passengers on board, but thankfully there were no major injuries reported.
The affected plane, which had only been in service since November, was able to safely land back at Portland International Airport in Oregon, where it had taken off from. The Alaska division of the Association of Flight Attendants described the decompression in the cabin as “explosive” and reported minor injuries to one flight attendant.
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FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker stated, “The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 Max 9 planes before they can return to flight. Safety will continue to drive our decision-making as we assist the NTSB’s investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282.”
Following the incident, Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci announced that the company would be grounding its fleet of 65 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft for a few days to conduct safety checks. Each aircraft will only be returned to service after undergoing full maintenance and safety inspections.
The FAA order extends the grounding to “approximately 171 airplanes worldwide” that are either operated by US airlines or located in US territory. Minicucci emphasized that Alaska Airlines will fully support the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into the incident.
According to FlightRadar24, the blowout occurred at an altitude of around 16,000 feet. Social media posts shared by passengers showed the shocking scene of the gaping hole in the cabin and the sky fully exposed.
This is not the first time that Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft has faced safety concerns. The model was previously grounded for nearly two years following fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.
The 2018 crash in Indonesia claimed the lives of all 189 people on board, while the 2019 crash in Ethiopia resulted in the deaths of 157 individuals.
In 2021, Boeing reached a $2.5 billion settlement with the Department of Justice to avoid criminal charges related to the crashes. The company has since implemented various safety improvements and modifications to the 737 Max aircraft.
As investigations into the recent cabin panel blowout continue, the grounding of Boeing 737 Max 9 planes serves as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
The FAA’s commitment to prioritizing safety and cooperating with the NTSB’s investigation highlights the importance of thorough inspections and adherence to stringent safety protocols in the aviation industry.
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