737 Max 9: Boeing jets cleared to fly after mid-air incident
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced the approval for Boeing’s 737 Max 9 jets to resume operations following the completion of inspections.
The FAA had grounded 171 of these aircraft after an unused door detached during a flight. United Airlines and Alaska Airlines are set to reintegrate the jets into service in the coming days.
However, the FAA clarified that it will not permit Boeing to expand production of its popular narrow-body jet series, including the 737 Max 9.
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker emphasized that Boeing would not resume normal operations until the quality control issues identified during inspections are effectively addressed.
While the decision to allow flights is a relief for Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, which had to cancel numerous flights, it underscores ongoing challenges for Boeing.
Alaska Airlines said it expects “to bring our first few planes back into scheduled commercial service on Friday”, with more planes added every day as inspections are completed.
United Airlines said it had received final approval from the FAA to complete the process of returning its 79-strong fleet of 737 Max 9 planes to service.
The company’s chief operations officer Toby Enqvist said the airline was preparing to start flying the aircraft again from 28 January.
On 5 January a door plug on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 blew off shortly after take-off, terrifying passengers, and forcing an emergency return to the Portland, Oregon airport.
Bosses of both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have expressed frustration with Boeing over the grounding of the 737 Max 9, which has caused major disruptions to their services.
In an interview with NBC News, Alaska Airlines boss Ben Minicucci said there was “no doubt” that the plane came “off the production line with a faulty door”.
He said airline inspections since the incident found “many” loose bolts. “I’m more than frustrated and disappointed,” he said. “I am angry.”
United Airlines chief executive, Scott Kirby, also told CNBC that he is “disappointed”.
“The Max 9 grounding is probably the straw that broke the camel’s back for us,” he said, adding that “we’re going to build a plan that doesn’t have the [Boeing] Max 10 in it”.
United also said earlier this week that it expected to lose money because of the grounding.
On Wednesday, the head of Boeing, David Calhoun, faced questions from lawmakers in Washington to explain what led to the mid-air emergency.
The latest incident raises fresh questions about the safety of Boeing’s aircraft.
The company faced intense scrutiny after two fatal crashes of 737 Max 8 passenger jets in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people.
