The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has decided to indefinitely extend the grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 9 airplanes. This extension is for additional safety checks following an incident where a cabin panel detached from a new jet during flight. The FAA is also set to enhance its oversight of Boeing’s production processes.
United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, both users of the affected aircraft, have canceled flights through Tuesday due to this grounding. The FAA’s decision comes as part of its intensified supervision measures, including an audit of Boeing’s 737 MAX 9 production line and its suppliers. There’s also consideration of assigning certain certification duties, previously managed by Boeing, to an independent entity.
Originally, the FAA had planned to lift the grounding after inspections but later determined that more comprehensive checks were necessary. Now, 40 of the 171 grounded planes must undergo reinspection before the agency can assess their safety for resuming flights.
This issue has caused significant operational disruptions for Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations. The crisis has also affected Boeing’s financial standing, with its shares dropping 2.2% on Friday and nearly 12% since the initial incident on January 5. This loss of confidence in Boeing echoes the aftermath of two fatal MAX 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in 346 deaths and led to major reforms in airplane certification.
The incident that triggered the current grounding involved an Alaska Airlines MAX 9 jet, which experienced a panel detachment at 16,000 feet, causing minor injuries among passengers. Following this, the FAA initiated a formal investigation into the MAX 9’s safety, with FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker citing significant production issues at Boeing.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the possible causes, including missing or improperly tightened bolts. Whitaker emphasized the need to scrutinize Boeing’s manufacturing process, hinting at persistent issues that require an extensive review.
Boeing has expressed its commitment to fully cooperate with the FAA’s audit and strengthen quality and safety measures. Similarly, Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems has pledged support for the FAA’s examination of production processes.
The FAA is also reconsidering its longstanding practice of delegating certain safety tasks to Boeing. Whitaker suggested exploring third-party involvement in critical safety inspections to ensure more direct oversight and impartiality.
Amid these developments, both Alaska and United Airlines reported finding loose parts on multiple grounded aircraft. This situation has raised concerns among industry professionals, including Captain Ed Sicher, president of the Allied Pilots Association, who sees increased scrutiny as inevitable given Boeing’s recent track record.
The broader implications of this incident extend to the FAA’s capability to sustain heightened oversight in the long term and the potential need for a third-party entity to handle critical safety tasks, a move that aviation safety expert John Cox described as highly unusual.
Boeing, facing ongoing scrutiny, has committed to addressing these challenges, including a $6.6 million penalty agreement in 2021 for failing to comply with a prior safety agreement. The FAA has also launched an external review of Boeing’s safety culture, underlining the heightened focus on aviation safety and regulatory compliance.
