Following an accident in which a window panel on a passenger plane operated by Alaska Airlines was blown off during flight, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) ordered the aircraft to be grounded on the 24th. announced that it has approved the necessary inspection and maintenance procedures to reopen.
On the 5th of this month over the state of Oregon in the western United States, a window panel at the rear of the passenger seat of a Boeing 737 MAX 9 passenger plane operated by Alaska Airlines was blown off, causing the plane to make an emergency landing.
In response to this accident, the FAA ordered the aircraft to be temporarily grounded, and 171 aircraft have been grounded worldwide.
On the 24th, the FAA announced that it had approved the inspection and maintenance procedures necessary for the aircraft to resume operations.
Items include detailed inspections of specific bolts and parts.
Regarding the timing of the resumption of service, the statement said, ``If this is completed successfully, the same type of aircraft will be able to resume service.''
In a statement, FAA Administrator Whitaker said, "After several weeks of gathering information and conducting a thorough review, the FAA is confident in moving forward with inspection and maintenance."
On the other hand, the FAA has indicated to Boeing that it will not allow Boeing to expand production of the 737 MAX passenger aircraft at this stage.