The top aviation authority in the United States of America, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has instructed the temporary grounding of specific Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft for safety assessments. This decision followed a significant incident on Friday, where a panel in the aircraft’s cabin blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight, necessitating an emergency landing.
The incident occurred shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, on a flight bound for Ontario, California. As the plane ascended, a piece of the fuselage detached from the left side of the jet. Pilots had to promptly turn back, successfully landing the plane with all 171 passengers and six crew members unharmed. The aircraft had only been in service for eight weeks.
This measure, mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), isn’t as extensive as the complete grounding of all MAX-family jets, as happened almost five years ago. Nevertheless, it’s another setback for Boeing as they strive to recover from multiple challenges, including safety issues and financial strains due to the pandemic.
FAA Chief Mike Whitaker stated on Saturday that immediate inspections of specific Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes are necessary before they can resume flight operations. He emphasized the priority of safety in decision-making and mentioned the FAA’s collaboration with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in investigating Alaska Airlines Flight 1282.
Boeing expressed its support for the directive requiring prompt inspections of 171 planes configured similarly to the affected aircraft. In response to the situation, Alaska Airlines took the voluntary step of grounding its fleet of 65 Boeing MAX 9 jets to conduct safety checks. By Saturday morning, a significant portion of these inspections had been completed without discovering any new issues, leading to the resumption of flights for those cleared planes.
United Airlines also took precautionary measures, temporarily suspending service for approximately 45 Boeing 737 MAX 9 airplanes for inspections. Of their fleet of 79 such aircraft, 33 had already undergone the required inspections. Consequently, United anticipated around 60 flight cancellations on Saturday.
As per aviation data provider Cirium, Alaska and United are currently the only U.S. airlines utilizing the MAX 9 model. Boeing, dealing with a series of production and quality problems alongside this incident, previously faced a nearly two-year grounding of its best-selling model due to crashes in 2018 and 2019.
At present, the cause behind this structural failure remains unknown, and fortunately, no injuries have been reported. Lawmakers have called for investigations into the incident, seeking clarity and resolution. Alaska Airlines experienced 108 flight cancellations on Saturday, constituting approximately 14% of its scheduled flights.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced plans to dispatch a team of experts in structures, operations, and systems to commence an investigation at the incident site on Saturday. Boeing assured its commitment to acquiring additional information and maintained communication with the airline throughout this process.
The past grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX was primarily due to two fatal crashes involving the aircraft.
The first crash occurred in October 2018 when a Lion Air flight crashed into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff from Jakarta, Indonesia. All 189 people on board were killed. Investigations revealed that a faulty sensor triggered an automated system called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), which erroneously pushed the plane’s nose down, leading to the crash.
The second crash happened in March 2019 when an Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing all 157 people on board. Similarities were found between the two crashes, leading to the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX globally.
Both incidents raised concerns about the aircraft’s automated flight control system (MCAS) and highlighted issues related to pilot training and aircraft design. Investigations and subsequent reviews revealed flaws in the MCAS system, leading to a loss of confidence in the aircraft’s safety and prompting aviation authorities worldwide to ground the Boeing 737 MAX fleet for almost two years until the necessary safety modifications and enhancements were implemented and certified for safe operation.
The grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX fleet following the crashes did impact Boeing’s reputation and finances significantly. The company faced substantial financial losses due to halted production, compensation claims from airlines affected by the grounding, and expenses related to fixing the aircraft’s issues.
Moreover, the prolonged grounding affected Boeing’s orders and deliveries, impacting its revenue stream. The company had to work extensively on resolving the problems, regaining trust from regulators, airlines, and the public to ensure the aircraft’s safe return to service.
While the immediate impact was substantial, Boeing continues to be a major player in the aviation industry with various aircraft models and defense contracts. Over time, as they rectify issues and regain trust, the overall impact on Boeing’s value may stabilize, but the exact long-term effects can vary depending on how effectively they address the aftermath of the 737 MAX crisis and their performance in the market.
