01/10/2024 5:04 pm (current 01/10/2024 6:12 pm)
The component that ripped off the fuselage of a Boeing 737 Max 9 last week. ©Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images/AFP, Instagram/@strawberrvy via Portal
Following the near-crash of a Boeing 737-9 Max in the US, there are growing signs of a more far-reaching problem.
After a portion of the fuselage of an Alaska Airlines jet broke mid-flight on Friday, the airline, as well as larger United Airlines, discovered loose fasteners in the areas in question on other planes.
Boeing still in crisis
The US accident investigation authority, NTSB, does not rule out extending the checks to other variants of the aircraft. Even about five years after the fatal crash of two 737 Max jets, Boeing is still not out of the doldrums.
“Our first priority is to find out what happened to this plane,” NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said Monday night in the US. “If we have a major system-wide or fleet-wide issue, we will issue an urgent safety recommendation to make changes.” So far, the US aviation authority FAA has ordered about 170 grounded 737-9 Max aircraft and forced operators to carry out inspections.
Boeing chief promises clarification
CEO Dave Calhoun admitted that the aircraft manufacturer made a mistake and promised to clarify the matter. “We will address this first and foremost by admitting our error,” Calhoun told employees on Tuesday (local time). According to an excerpt of his speech published by Boeing, he also promised 100% transparency.
The broken part of the fuselage replaces an aircraft door that is not needed. According to investigators, this insert climbed up the cabin wall before dislodging with a loud bang. The missing part of the fuselage was found in a teacher's garden in Portland, Oregon, and is now being examined.
Part of the cabin was torn off during the flight
In Friday's incident, the 177 people aboard the Boeing jet largely escaped the crash. According to experts, this was also due to fortunate circumstances: no one was sitting directly next to the broken piece and all passengers were still wearing their seat belts.
Where the Boeing 737-9 Max (no longer) flies
US airline United has 79 aircraft of the affected type, Alaska has 65. Airlines such as Iceland's Iceland Air and Indonesia's Lion Air also have the 737-9 Max in their fleets. However, your machines have an additional emergency exit installed on each side. This allows jets to carry more passengers. This variant is not yet affected by the takeoff ban and FAA requirements.
EU aviation regulator EASA has previously stated that airlines in the countries it oversees do not have aircraft of the type in question. According to the local civil aviation authority, there are no Boeing 737-9 Max registered in Britain.
No shortage of Boeing orders
Boeing has repeatedly made headlines with production defects. Despite the problems, Boeing delivered ten percent more aircraft in 2023 than in 2022. A total of 528 passenger and cargo jets reached their buyers, the company announced on Tuesday. Boeing delivered 396 examples of the 737 series – especially the new Max edition. The group has no shortage of orders. In 2023 it received orders for 1,456 passenger and cargo jets. After deducting cancellations, new orders for 1,314 jets remained.