US FAA launches probe of Boeing 737 MAX 9 after mid-air panel incident
(VOVWORLD) - The US Federal Aviation Administration is launching a formal investigation into the Boeing 737 MAX 9 after a cabin panel blew off an Alaska Airlines flight last week in mid-air, forcing an emergency landing, the regulator said on Thursday.
 The fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Boeing 737-9 MAX, which was forced to make an emergency landing with a gap in the fuselage, is seen during its investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Portland, Oregon, US, January 7, 2024. (Photo: NTSB/Handout via REUTERS) |
The FAA has grounded 171 Boeing jets with the same panel pending safety inspections. Most are operated by US carriers Alaska Airlines and United Airlines.
The incident was the latest in a series of events that have shaken confidence in the aircraft manufacturer.
The FAA said the Alaska Airlines incident "should have never happened and it cannot happen again." It told Boeing of the investigation in a letter on Wednesday "to determine if Boeing failed to ensure completed products conformed to its approved design and were in a condition for safe operation" under FAA rules.
On Monday, both Alaska and United said they had found loose parts on multiple grounded aircraft during preliminary checks, raising new concerns about how Boeing's best-selling jet family is manufactured.