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Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900ER
Photo: Chad Slattery / Alaska Airlines
After the incident with a cabin part of a Boeing aircraft that broke off during flight, the US air traffic control is also targeting a previous model.
To be on the safe side, airlines should check the panels in front of unneeded emergency exits on 737-900ER aircraft, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced last night in Washington.
Boeing used the same design for the model as the newer 737 Max 9.
On January 5, such a fuselage part broke off during the climb on an almost new Alaska Airlines aircraft of this type.
The pilots were able to land the plane safely, and the 177 people on board were largely unscathed.
The FAA has since banned the variant with this component from flying.
Around 170 machines worldwide are affected.
The older 737-900ER is a variant of the Max predecessor 737 NG with an extended range (“ER” – Extended Range).
In the fuselage of this type, as in the 737 Max 9, there is a frame on each side for an unnecessary emergency exit, which is closed with a solid fuselage part instead of a door.
According to Boeing, 505 units of the 737-900ER were delivered worldwide.
In addition to Alaska Airlines, one of its largest operators is the US company United Airlines.
mic/dpa