The airline, based in Seattle, anticipates continued cancellations through the first half of the week.
The impact of Sunday’s cancellations was notably significant, affecting nearly 25,000 guests. Alaska Airlines, which operates a fleet of 65 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, is one of the major carriers hit by this grounding.
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The FAA’s decision on Saturday for a temporary grounding came after an incident involving an eight-week-old Alaska Airlines jet. The aircraft was compelled to make an emergency landing due to a gap in the fuselage, following the detachment of a door plug from the left side of the jet. This incident occurred shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, on a flight bound for Ontario, California. Fortunately, the pilots managed to return and land safely, with all 171 passengers and six crew members unharmed.
In response to these safety concerns, the FAA has stated, “They will remain grounded until the FAA is satisfied that they are safe.” This statement, issued on Sunday, underscores the agency’s commitment to passenger safety and stringent compliance with aviation standards. The grounding of these jets marks a significant step in ensuring that thorough inspections and necessary rectifications are made before these aircraft return to the skies.
In the meantime, those who make, service, operate and regulate the planes will be in the spotlight.
It is not clear whether Boeing is to blame for what happened to the Alaska Airlines plane, but the episode raises new questions for the manufacturer and puts additional pressure on it. Another version of the Max, a 737 Max 8, was involved in two crashes that killed hundreds of people in 2018 and 2019 and led to a worldwide grounding of that plane.
“The issue is what’s going on at Boeing,” said John Goglia, a longtime aviation safety consultant and a retired member of the NTSB, which investigates airplane crashes.
Last month, the company urged airlines to inspect the more than 1,300 delivered Max planes for a possible loose bolt in the rudder-control system. Over the summer, Boeing said a key supplier had improperly drilled holes in a component that helps to maintain cabin pressure. Since then, Boeing has invested in and worked more closely with that supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, to address production problems.
Spirit AeroSystems also worked on the fuselage for the 737 Max 9, including manufacturing and installing the door plug that failed on the Alaska Airlines flight.
(With inputs from agencies)