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Hole in Boeing 737 Max 9: planes are inspected
Photograph:
Kyle Rinker / REUTERS
The dramatic incident, in which a large part of the cabin broke out during a flight in the USA, has further consequences for the US aircraft manufacturer Boeing and several airlines. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Saturday that certain 737 Max 9 aircraft operated by U.S. airlines or on U.S. territory would have to be inspected. The European Aviation Safety Agency is now following suit – and several airlines are keeping their planes grounded.
Alaska Airlines, on whose flight the accident occurred, says it has suspended the flights of 18 Boeing Max 9 aircraft in anticipation of possible additional maintenance. It is in contact with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration "to determine whether and what further work is required before these aircraft can be put back into service," the airline said.
The airline resumed flights with 18 of its 65 Max 9 aircraft. These have been thoroughly inspected as part of extensive maintenance work, it is said. Alaska Airlines' entire Max 9 fleet had been grounded early Saturday after one of the planes was forced to make an emergency landing.
Europe joins U.S. rule
United Airlines temporarily suspended the operation of all Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft. Now the inspections required by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration should be carried out, the company announces. "We are working with the FAA to clarify the inspection process and requirements for the return to service of all Max 9 aircraft," United Airlines said. Earlier, the US airline said that of its 79 Max 9 aircraft, 33 had already been inspected in accordance with the requirements of the aviation authority.
Turkish Airlines has also withdrawn five Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft from service for inspection. This was announced by company spokesman Yahya Üstün on X . The planes will remain on the ground at the first airport where they are now landing, Üstün said.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is now adopting the FAA's directive and is also demanding immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft. However, EASA said that no airline from an EU member state is currently "operating an aircraft in the affected configuration". The UK's aviation safety authority also said it requires any operator of a 737 Max 9 to comply with the FAA directive.
Disaster at an altitude of 4900 meters
On Friday, part of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 with 177 people on board broke off at an altitude of almost 4900,<> meters, which was only a few weeks old. Videos circulated by passengers show a hole the size of an airplane door on the left side of the plane at the level of the rows of seats. The seat right next to the hole had been unoccupied, according to media reports. Through the hole in the fuselage the black night could be seen, a row of seats behind it strapped passengers with oxygen masks on.
It is the latest incident involving Boeing's best-selling model, which had to be grounded for almost two years for safety reasons after crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019 that killed a total of 346 people. It turned out that poor cockpit software was responsible for the crashes. Saturday's incident comes as Boeing and a key supplier struggle with production and quality issues.
Boeing also said it was investigating the incident and gathering more information. The 737 Max 9 had only been delivered to Alaska Airlines at the end of October.
ptz/Reuters