Landing of a 737-MAX: trouble after a serious breakdown
Photo: AFP
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned Boeing from expanding production of its competitor to the Airbus A320.
The authority did not say how long the restriction will apply.
Nor how many aircraft Boeing is now allowed to produce per month.
According to analysts, limiting production could mean that airlines have to wait longer for new machines and suppliers get into trouble.
With this order, the FAA is responding to the serious breakdown at Alaska Airlines in early January.
A short time after take-off from Portland, part of the cabin wall, which is a placeholder for an emergency exit, fell out at a height of almost five kilometers.
"The quality assurance problems we have seen are unacceptable," says Mike Whitaker of the FAA.
“For this reason, we will closely examine and monitor production and manufacturing activities.” To this end, more staff are now being planned on site.
The FAA lifted the flight ban for the affected model 737-9 after inspections.
The agency is still investigating whether Boeing or its supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, is responsible for the inadequate fastening of the door plug.
Boeing wanted to increase MAX production because of high demand for the best-selling aircraft - initially from 38 to 42 aircraft in February and then gradually increasing to 57 per month by fall 2025. The FAA's decision could affect plans to produce a new one by mid-2024 To build a production line for the 737 MAX in Everett, Washington, after production of the legendary 747 jumbo was discontinued there.
ssu/Reuters