NTSB Urges Fix for Boeing 737 Max Engines After Smoke Incidents
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is urging a rapid fix to Boeing 737 Max engines after two serious smoke incidents involving Southwest Airlines jets in 2023. Following bird strikes in Havana and New Orleans, thick smoke filled the cockpit and cabin when a safety device activated, prompting safety concerns.
The engines, made by CFM International—a joint venture of GE Aerospace and Safran—contain a load reduction device that helps limit damage during a malfunction. However, when triggered by events like bird strikes, the system may inadvertently release oil into the hot engine, generating smoke that flows into the aircraft’s cockpit or cabin.
The NTSB warned that the issue could also affect Airbus A320neo and China’s COMAC C919 jets, which use similar engine models. Aviation regulators in Europe and China have been asked to assess the risk.
CFM said it agrees with the NTSB’s recommendations and is developing a software update to address the problem. Boeing confirmed it is working with CFM and has updated pilot checklists to better manage such incidents.
The FAA also supports the safety recommendations and stated it will mandate corrective action once a permanent fix is available, likely in early 2026. In the meantime, pilots can manually shut off engine airflow, but smoke can fill the cabin within seconds.
These new issues add to the long list of challenges surrounding the 737 Max, which has faced grounding, regulatory scrutiny, and production limits following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 and a recent door plug failure in early 2024.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com