F.A.A. Recommends That Airlines Check Panels on a Second Boeing 737 Plane
The Federal Aviation Administration is recommending that airlines inspect door plugs on a Boeing 737-900ER plane, following a safety alert issued after a panel blew off a similar model.
The F.A.A. Issues Safety Alert
The Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) has recommended that airlines conduct visual inspections of door plugs installed on Boeing 737-900ER planes, as a safety precaution. This comes after the agency grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 jets due to a door panel incident that occurred earlier this month.
The F.A.A. noted that the door plugs on the 737-900ER, an earlier-generation model, have not been problematic thus far. However, as an added layer of safety, the agency is now advising airlines to inspect the mid-exit door plugs on these planes to ensure proper security.
Inspections and Responses
In response to the F.A.A.'s recommendation, airlines using the 737-900ER model have already started conducting inspections. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, which all operate this aircraft, have assured that they will comply with the safety directive. These inspections are expected to be carried out without causing any disruptions to flight operations.
Boeing has expressed full support for the F.A.A.'s recommendation. The aircraft manufacturer has delivered approximately 500 Boeing 737-900ER planes globally between 2007 and 2019. However, not all of these planes are equipped with door plugs.
Investigating the Incident
The Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 flight incident earlier this month, where a door panel blew off, is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). If the incident had occurred at a higher altitude, it could have resulted in more serious consequences. The NTSB aims to determine the cause of the door plug failure.
Meanwhile, the F.A.A. has ordered initial inspections of 40 grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 planes. These inspections have been completed, and the agency is now reviewing the collected data.
