The Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft will continue to be grounded until the cause of a recent accident in which a door plug fell off is determined. This decision was announced on January 10th by Jennifer Homendy, chairman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, who stated that the aircraft will remain grounded until the cause of the door detachment accident is fully understood.
The grounding comes after an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft experienced a mid-air incident on January 5th, during which a door plug on the side of the cabin fell off, leading to an emergency landing. In response, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration ordered the temporary grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 9 passenger aircraft operated by U.S. airlines or within the United States to conduct safety inspections of the affected aircraft.
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun admitted on January 9th that the company had made mistakes in relation to the recent accidents involving the 737 MAX 9 aircraft. Calhoun stated that Boeing would work with the National Transportation Safety Board to find the cause of the accidents and ensure transparency throughout the process.
Furthermore, reports from Alaska Airlines and United Airlines revealed that loose parts and bolts were found during safety inspections of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, raising further concerns about quality control issues within Boeing’s manufacturing process.
Boeing has delivered 218 737 MAX 9 passenger aircraft around the world, with most of them in service with Alaska Airlines and United Airlines. The grounding of the aircraft is causing significant disruptions, with Alaska Airlines announcing the cancellation of its Boeing 737 MAX 9 flight schedule until January 13th, impacting more than 100 flights daily.
In response to the recent accidents and safety concerns, members of the U.S. Congress have called for hearings to evaluate not only the accidents themselves but also Boeing’s engineering and safety standards and the oversight provided by regulatory agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration.
The aviation industry is now awaiting the results of the investigation into the cause of the accidents and further information from Boeing regarding the necessary steps to address the safety and quality control issues that have come to light.