FAA Expands Inspections to Boeing 737-900ER Following 737-9 Max Incident

Following the recent cabin panel blowout on a Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended its safety checks to include the Boeing 737-900ER model, which shares a similar door design.

This decision comes after the FAA grounded over 170 aircraft from the 737-9 fleet when a cabin panel detached mid-flight. The additional inspections for the 737-900ER model represent an “added layer of safety,” according to the FAA. Although there have been no reported issues with the 737-900ER, its use of the same panel design as the 737-9 , which was involved in the alarming incident on January 5, has prompted these precautionary measures.

The incident in question involved an Alaska Airlines flight bound for California from Portland, Oregon, which had to execute an emergency landing after the panel dislodged, creating a large hole in the aircraft’s side. This event led to the grounding of all 737-9s with the specific panel style and negatively impacted Boeing’s share prices.

The FAA’s ongoing investigation is scrutinizing Boeing’s manufacturing practices and production lines, including those of subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems, the supplier of the affected panel. While the FAA has already inspected 40 of the grounded 737-9 planes, there is no set timeline for their return to service. The agency has emphasized that the “safety of the flying public, not speed,” will dictate the schedule for reinstating these aircraft.

In response to this incident, Boeing has committed to enhancing the quality of inspections within its manufacturing processes. Notably, the 737-900ER models have logged 11 million hours of operation without incidents similar to those of the newer 737-9s.

The FAA has not mandated grounding the older 737-900ER models while these visual inspections are conducted by operators, suggesting a level of confidence in the continued safe operation of these aircraft.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, faa.gov