In a significant development affecting aviation safety, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered the grounding of certain Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft following a mid-air incident involving an Alaska Airlines jet. This decision comes after the outer section of a Boeing 737 Max 9 plane fell off during an Alaska Airlines flight, prompting an emergency landing.

Incident Overview:

  • The incident occurred on an Alaska Airlines flight bound for Ontario, California, from Portland, Oregon. The flight, carrying 177 passengers and crew, experienced a depressurization incident soon after departure​​​​.
  • During the flight, at an altitude of about 16,000 feet, a loud bang was heard, followed by a “woosh” noise. Passengers witnessed the deployment of air masks. Notably, one passenger recounted that a child in the affected row had his shirt sucked out of the plane, and his mother had to hold onto him to prevent further danger​​.
  • The plane, a Boeing 737 Max 9, managed to land safely back in Portland without any reported injuries. Images from the incident showed a visible gap in the fuselage, through which the night sky could be seen, along with some debris​​.

FAA’s Response:

  • Following the incident, the FAA ordered the temporary grounding of about 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft globally for immediate inspections. These inspections are expected to take approximately four to eight hours per aircraft​​​​.
  • The affected area of the aircraft was behind the wing and engines, possibly near an additional emergency exit door, though this feature is not utilized by Alaska Airlines​​.

Alaska Airlines’ Actions:

  • Alaska Airlines responded by grounding all of its 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft. The CEO of Alaska Airlines, Ben Minicucci, stated that each aircraft would return to service only after full maintenance and safety inspections, which they anticipated completing within days​​​​.

Investigation and Boeing’s Response:

  • The specific cause of the incident is still under investigation by the United States National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA. Alaska Airlines has not provided further details about the potential cause​​.
  • The Boeing 737 Max 9 involved was a recent addition to Alaska Airlines’ fleet, delivered in late October and certified in early November. Boeing, the manufacturer, is aware of the emergency landing and has expressed readiness to support the investigation​​.

Contextual Background:

  • The Boeing 737 Max series, which includes the Max 9, has faced scrutiny in the past. All Boeing 737 Max jets were grounded worldwide for nearly two years following two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019, respectively. These crashes raised serious concerns about an automated flight-control system, which Boeing subsequently overhauled before the aircraft were cleared to fly again​​.

The FAA’s decision to ground these planes underscores the ongoing challenges and safety concerns in the aviation industry, particularly with the Boeing 737 Max series. This incident, while fortunately not resulting in any injuries, serves as a reminder of the critical importance of aircraft maintenance and safety inspections in ensuring passenger safety. The ongoing investigations by the FAA and other authorities will likely provide further insights into the cause of this incident and possibly lead to additional safety measures for the Boeing 737 Max series.