FAA grounds 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes after mid‑air fuselage tear incident
The incident happened on Friday, approximately 35 minutes into an Alaska Airlines flight departing from Portland International Airport in Oregon en route to Ontario, California. U.S. media reports showed 171 passengers and six crew members were on board.
7:41 AM EST, January 8, 2024
Aircraft Grounded Due to Safety Concerns
The aircraft was nearly 16,404.2 feet in the air when a section of the fuselage—designed for potential further door installation—separated from the main body.
In response to a sudden drop in pressure, passengers were instructed to put on oxygen masks. Subsequently, the airplane made an emergency return to the airport.
The FAA mandated the inspection of over 170 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft on Saturday after the incident. The aircraft were initially grounded following Friday's occurrence. By Sunday, the decision was made to halt the operation of all 171 aircraft of this type and launch a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
The AFP news agency reminds us that the 737 MAX 9 has experienced several technical difficulties and two major crashes in recent years. In October 2018 and March 2019, a collective of 346 people lost their lives as a result of these incidents. The Boeing 737 MAX remained grounded for 20 months until authorities again deemed it fit for service.
