The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States has indefinitely extended the grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 9 airplanes. This decision comes after a cabin panel dislodged from a new jet mid-flight, raising serious safety concerns. The FAA now demands a fresh round of inspections before considering these jets fit for service again.
In response to this incident, the FAA has announced more stringent supervision measures. The FAA plans to audit the Boeing 737 MAX 9 production line and its suppliers. Moreover, they’re considering allowing an independent entity to oversee certain safety certification processes that were previously managed by Boeing. This move signifies a shift towards tighter regulatory control over aircraft safety procedures.
As of now, 171 planes with the same configuration as the one involved in the recent incident are grounded, prioritizing passenger safety. The FAA initially declared that these planes would be cleared once inspected but later decided that additional checks are necessary for the Boeing 737 MAX 9. They’ve specified that 40 of these planes must undergo reinspection, after which they will evaluate if the safety standards are satisfactory for the MAX 9s to return to the skies.
Impact on Airlines and Boeing’s Reputation
This grounding has significantly affected U.S. airlines utilizing these aircraft, particularly Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations over the past week. Both airlines have canceled all MAX 9 flights through Tuesday, with United canceling additional flights in the subsequent days.
The incident has also impacted Boeing’s stock, which closed down 2.2% on Friday, marking a nearly 12% decline since the January 5 incident. Confidence in Boeing has been wavering since the two fatal MAX 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019, which led to reforms in the certification of new airplanes.
The FAA has launched a formal investigation into the MAX 9. Administrator Mike Whitaker expressed concerns over Boeing’s history of production issues, stating the need for an extensive review focused on the manufacturing process. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also investigating if the jet involved in the incident had missing or improperly tightened bolts.
Boeing has pledged to fully cooperate with the regulator and support actions that enhance quality and safety. Their supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, also expressed commitment to assisting the FAA’s audit.
A Shift in Regulatory Practices
Whitaker is reexamining the long-standing practice of the FAA delegating critical safety tasks to Boeing, suggesting the involvement of a third party for certain inspections. This approach aims to ensure a higher level of confidence and more direct oversight ability.
Preliminary checks by Alaska and United Airlines revealed loose parts on multiple grounded aircraft. Captain Ed Sicher, president of the Allied Pilots Association, emphasized the need for tighter FAA control over Boeing’s operations, given the recent issues.
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