(Daily360.com) – Government agencies have inspected 40 Boeing 737 Max 9 (737-9) jets with more on the way. The inspections are being conducted by both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) after a probe was requested by the Biden administration. The investigation follows a headline-making incident from January 5 when an Alaskan Airlines 737-9 had a piece of fuselage blow off while in the air.
The door was compromised and blew out as the airplane was ascending; luckily no passengers were sitting in the immediately adjacent seats and the plane was able to land with only minor injuries reported. Since the incident, many reports have been surfacing about uncertainty with that model of airplane and its safety and reliability. There have also been questions about airlines focusing more on diversity than merit with recent hires, and that has some flyers a bit anxious.
The FAA confirmed the recent inspections and released a statement letting the public know that all 737-9 airplanes with the questionable door plug configuration will remain grounded pending the final review results. They say all the airplanes must be up to all FAA standards of safety and pass inspection before they can be put back into service. They claim the priority of this process is safety and not speed.
Details have not been released about a two hour closed-door Senate Energy and Commerce Committee meeting that took place on Wednesday the 17th. Committee members were briefed by both NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy and FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker. Officials said the investigations are still in their early stages and have given no indication about what the potential fines or punishments might be should the airplanes fail the inspections.
Beyond the inspection of built 737-9’s the FAA said they will also be looking into Boeing’s manufacturing and production line practices. They’re checking to verify whether or not the company is following the proper quality-control procedures. The 737-9 model is only used by Alaska Airlines and United Airlines.
Copyright 2024, Daily360.com
