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U.S. aviation regulators said Friday that the 737 Max 9 would remain grounded until Boeing provided additional data.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it would analyze data from inspections of an initial group of 40 of the roughly 170 grounded jets before deciding whether to lift the grounding imposed after a shocking mid-air fuselage rupture of an Alaska Airlines aircraft Flight.
“We are working to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” said FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker.
Boeing said earlier this week that it had given airlines instructions on how to inspect the planes. However, the FAA said it needed more information before it could sign off on the program, but added that it was “encouraged by the comprehensive nature of Boeing's instructions for inspections and maintenance.”
United Airlines, which flies more Max 9s than any other airline, said Friday it was canceling flights on the plane through Tuesday to give it more time to maneuver as it prepares for winter storms across much of the United States.
“By canceling so far in advance, we are trying to provide greater certainty for our customers and more flexibility for our frontline teams to get their work done,” the airline said.
Earlier Friday, the FAA said it was considering revoking Boeing's right to conduct some of its aircraft inspections for planes leaving its factories.
The move to review the oversight program, in which Boeing's own employees certify aircraft safety on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration, was prompted by the grounding of some 737 Max 9s following the mid-air incident over Oregon last Friday. The so-called “organizational designation approval” previously came under scrutiny when two Boeing 737 Max 8s crashed in 2018 and 2019.
Whitaker said the FAA is “exploring” its options to hire an independent third party to oversee inspections of Boeing planes and their quality controls.
“It is time to re-examine the delegation of authority and assess any associated security risks,” he said. “The grounding of the 737-9 and the numerous production-related issues identified in recent years [at Boeing] require that we explore all options to reduce risk.”
The regulator also said it plans to immediately step up its oversight of Boeing's production. The FAA launched an investigation Thursday to check whether the planes built by Boeing meet the specifications it sets.
The FAA said it will examine the 737 Max 9 production line and its suppliers “to assess Boeing's compliance with approved quality procedures,” with further audits being conducted as necessary.
Spirit AeroSystems, which supplies the Max's fuselage, including the door panel section taken from the plane operated by Alaska Airlines, has been in the spotlight over the past year for quality defects.
The clogged door panel arrived at the lab on Friday the National Transportation Safety Board, part of its accident investigation.
Washington Senator Maria Cantwell sent a letter to the FAA yesterday questioning the agency's role in inspecting Boeing aircraft. Cantwell said she requested an audit of certain areas related to Boeing production a year ago and regulators told her it was unnecessary.
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“Recent accidents and incidents – including the ejected door plug on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 – call Boeing’s quality control into question,” she said. “In short, it appears that the FAA’s oversight processes have not been effective in ensuring that Boeing produces aircraft suitable for safe operation.”
The FAA also said it would increase monitoring of any Max 9 malfunctions during operations. However, the aircraft are not in use except outside US territory. There are about 215 worldwide – the Max 9 is a less popular variant than the Max 8, which has fewer seats – and the FAA grounded the 171 Boeing jets on Saturday after the incident on Alaska Airlines 1282.
The regulator on Friday reiterated what it had said throughout the week: “The safety of the flying public, not speed, will determine the timeline for returning the Boeing 737-9 Max to service.”
Boeing said: “We welcome the FAA's announcement and will cooperate fully and transparently with our regulator.” We support any actions that
We strengthen quality and safety and take action throughout our company
production system.”