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Boeing Under Scrutiny Following Alaska Airlines Incident

FAA Grounds All Boeing 737 Max 9 Jetliners for Inspection Amid Concerns Over Manufacturing Process

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In this National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) handout, an opening is seen in the fuselage of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Boeing 737-9 MAX on January 7, 2024 in Portland, Oregon.
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the temporary grounding of 737 MAX 9 aircraft on Saturday, after an Alaska Airlines plane’s fuselage blew off mid-flight.
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Overview

  • An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 was forced to make an emergency landing after a cabin panel blew off midair, prompting the FAA to ground all Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners for inspection.
  • Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun acknowledged the company's errors and promised to ensure such an incident would not happen again, though the exact fault in the aircraft has not been confirmed.
  • United Airlines and Alaska Airlines reported incidents of needing to tighten loose hardware on their Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, raising concerns about the manufacturing process.
  • The FAA announced 'significant actions' to increase its oversight of Boeing, including an audit of the 737 Max 9 production line and possibly using an independent third party to oversee Boeing's inspections.
  • Boeing's culture and quality control have come under scrutiny, with critics suggesting a shift towards prioritizing finances over engineering since a 1997 merger.