On January 6th, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an order Directed U.S. airlines to temporarily ground all Boeing 737 MAX 9 jetliners until thorough inspections are conducted. The development comes less than a day after a Boeing 737 MAX 9 suffered a flat tire, leaving a large hole in the side of the plane. Unfortunately, approximately 26,000 Alaska Airlines passengers were stranded.
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 was heading to Ontario, California, but had to make an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon. Flight data showed the plane had climbed to an altitude of 16,000 feet (4,876 meters) before the accident. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the door fell over the Cedar Hills suburb of Portland.
After a moment of anxiety, the plane landed safely with all 174 passengers and six crew members. Homendy shared that there were no passengers in the seats next to the cabin panel.
However, the Portland newspaper The Oregonian is The sudden decompression ripped the shirt of a boy sitting in the row, causing injuries, the statement said. According to reports, several other passengers also sustained minor injuries.
Several passengers on board Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 have opened up about an unsettling experience that lasted about 20 minutes. One passenger said the gap was as wide as a refrigerator and extremely strong winds penetrated through it. The wind caused all the air masks to fall down, and through the holes I could clearly see the city lights and night sky below. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.
The FAA’s order affects the operation of approximately 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. The agency did not discuss the cause of the incident. However, in its grounding order, the FAA directed airlines to thoroughly inspect planes’ center-cabin door plugs. Some Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft with fewer seats do not require all the emergency exits originally designed for the aircraft. Plugs are used to fill these redundant outlets.
Following the FAA’s order, Alaska Airlines began inspecting door plugs. They expect this process to be completed within a few days. Alaska Airlines currently operates 65 MAX 9 aircraft. The door plug and other MAX 9s from the ill-fated Alaska Airlines flight were installed by Spirit AeroSystems.
aviation data provider Kirium United Airlines currently operates 79 MAX 9 aircraft, and the airline has revealed it has already grounded some Boeing 737 MAX 9s. Thirty-three of the company’s 79 MAX 9 aircraft have already been inspected.
Those tests were not good. United Airlines and Alaska Airlines found loose parts on multiple grounded MAX 9 planes.
History of Boeing’s MAX problems
the history of Boeing MAX aircraft These days, it has become a serious concern for commuters. Boeing’s reputation took a major hit in 2018 and 2019 after two crashes involving early model Max 8 planes. Nearly 350 people lost their lives in these two accidents. The investigation revealed several significant flaws related to the design of the aircraft’s automation systems.
These two crashes caused travelers to lose confidence in both the FAA and Boeing. In 2020, these planes were declared safe to fly. However, the process of rebuilding trust is not yet complete. The latest incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 is another major shock to Boeing’s plans to eliminate all concerns.
Last December, the FAA monitored some MAX aircraft for loose bolts in the rudder control system. A few months earlier, in August 2023, the FAA issued a directive stating that if an engine’s anti-icing system is activated for more than five minutes, the engine could overheat and fail.
Boeing is currently developing a smaller version of the MAX. The safety design of these planes is currently being reviewed by regulators. In December 2023, Boeing requested a two-year exemption from FAA safety rules to review the system. The company plans to apply the necessary modifications to older MAX planes.
Should travelers be concerned?
Recent incidents have raised serious safety concerns, especially among travelers. budget traveler Frequently fly low-cost airlines. These airlines save money by offering simple seats with basic comfort levels, operating from smaller airports, and optimizing route mapping.
However, compromising passenger safety does not save money. In fact, many factors make these airlines safer than many traditional “full service” airlines.
largely low cost airlines It is relatively new in the aviation field. We have the latest model airplanes with state-of-the-art safety mechanisms and procedures.
Furthermore, most low-cost airlines around the world only use one aircraft model. This greatly facilitates streamlining maintenance, simplifies training for maintenance staff, and reduces repair costs.
They spend money to maintain a decent flight safety record. They understand that any safety incident can have a devastating impact on their reputation and business.
Texas-based Southwest Airlines is the world’s oldest low-cost airline, with more than 12 million flights over 40 years. However, they have never had an accident. His two biggest low-cost carriers in the UK, Ryanair and EasyJet, have a similar track record.
Indeed, the recent accidents are a serious concern for Boeing’s MAX aircraft and its reputation. However, it is unlikely to have a long-term impact on the millions of people who travel on various low-cost airlines around the world. Factors to consider when choosing an airline include regular maintenance, compliance with regulatory requirements, airline rankings, safety and reliability record, and pilot qualifications and training.
This article was created by Media decisions Syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
