The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered the temporary immobilisation of 171 Boeing 737 MAX-9 following a spectacular incident on an Alaska Airlines plane. Last Friday, a panel of the fuselage had become detached some ten minutes after the aircraft took off from Portland airport (Oregon).
Federal investigators said Monday evening that it was possible the bolts that were supposed to hold a fuselage panel in place were never installed before the panel separated from the Boeing 737 MAX 9.
The FAA has so ordered the grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 9s of the same type. The order concerns aircraft operated by US airlines or on US territory. " The FAA requires immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9s before they are allowed to fly again" said Mike Whitaker, FAA Administrator. " Safety will continue to guide our decisions as we assist the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) in its investigation into Alaska Airlines flight 1282." .
The FAA has activated the Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD). This requires operators to inspect the aircraft concerned before any further flight. The required inspections take between four and eight hours per aircraft. All Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft equipped with a clamshell door will remain grounded until the FAA determines that they can be safely returned to service.. Boeing must provide operators with instructions for inspections and maintenance.
Domestic lines partially affected by the tie-up
Alaska Airlines and United Airlines are the airlines most affected by this temporary grounding.. The first operates 65 Boeing MAX 9This represents around 20 % of its fleet. United has 79the highest figure of any US airline. This represents around 8 % of its fleet, according to Cirium, a consultant working on aeronautical data. United has already reported loose bolts on some of its B737 MAX 9 doors over the weekend.
Both airlines have had to adjust some of their flight plans. Passengers must therefore reconfirm their ticket before travelling to the airport.
American Airlines and Southwest, which also operate Boeing 737 MAXs, only have versions 7 or 8 of the aircraft.
