Boeing 737 Max 9 Grounded Worldwide after Midair Fuselage Detachment
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Scores of Boeing 737 Max 9 planes, spanning the US, Latin America, Turkey, and the EU, have been grounded following an emergency landing prompted by a midair fuselage detachment incident.
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 faced the harrowing experience as a substantial section of the aircraft's fuselage detached mid-flight, exposing the cabin to the external environment. This necessitated an immediate return shortly after departing from Portland, Oregon, en route to California on Friday. Fortunately, none of the 174 passengers or six crew members suffered serious injuries, although some required medical attention. Alaska Airlines took swift action, grounding all 65 of its 737 Max 9 planes for thorough safety inspections as the cause of the incident remains under investigation.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an order on Saturday, mandating the temporary grounding of a specific number of 737 Max 9 aircraft either operated by US airlines or within the country. This directive requires immediate inspections before allowing these aircraft to resume flights, impacting around 171 planes, according to officials.
Boeing expressed full support for the FAA's decision and expressed deep regret for the incident. The company stated its technicians are actively participating in the ongoing investigation.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency aligned with the FAA's directive, acknowledging no EU airline currently operates the affected configuration. Meanwhile, Britain's Civil Aviation Authority confirmed no UK airlines operate this plane type but has urged foreign permit carriers to undergo inspections before entering UK airspace.
Turkish Airlines announced the suspension of its five Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft pending completion of technical reviews, emphasizing flight safety as its foremost concern. Latin American carriers Copa Airlines and Aeromexico also grounded 40 planes following suit.
This occurrence marks the latest in a series of setbacks for Boeing's 737 Max series, which faced a 20-month grounding following fatal crashes in Ethiopia (2019) and Indonesia (2018) claiming 346 lives. The company has grappled with manufacturing defects, recently requesting airlines to inspect Max airplanes for a potential loose bolt in the rudder control system.
