Emergency Landing Prompts FAA Inspection Order for Boeing 737 Max 9 Fleet

An emergency landing of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 in Portland, Oregon, has prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to order inspections, affecting approximately 171 planes owned by Alaska, United, and other airlines.

Fuselage Broke Open Midair

The incident occurred when the plane’s fuselage broke open midair, resulting in a door-sized hole. No serious injuries were reported. Alaska Airlines immediately grounded its 65 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, with the FAA later ordering temporary grounding for some planes in other fleets. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident.

The Boeing 737 Max series has a troubled history, with two crashes in 2018 and 2019 leading to a global grounding for nearly two years due to malfunctions associated with the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). Boeing faced legal consequences, agreeing to pay $2.5 billion in a 2021 settlement with the Justice Department. By 2022, the crisis had cost Boeing an estimated $20.7 billion.

The Boeing 737 Max 9, part of the single-aisle series, is used by airlines like United and Alaska. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority confirmed no 737 Max 9s were flown by Australian airlines. Other affected carriers include Copa Airlines, Aeromexico, SCAT Airlines, Iceland Air, Turkish Airlines, and FlyDubai.

The incident prompts immediate safety reviews, led by the NTSB in this case. Investigations may take months, involving collaboration among technical experts, airlines, labor unions, and Boeing. The FAA can order inspections or groundings based on emerging evidence before the safety board’s report.