The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that it will be grounding certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft following the recent incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. The decision comes as the FAA continues to prioritize safety and investigate the cause of the incident.
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker stated, “The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes before they can return to flight. Safety will continue to drive our decision-making as we assist the NTSB’s investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282.”
The Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) will be issued shortly and will require operators to inspect aircraft before further flight if they do not meet the specified inspection cycles. The inspections are estimated to take around four to eight hours per aircraft. It is estimated that approximately 171 airplanes worldwide will be affected by the EAD.
The announcement comes as the aviation industry remains vigilant in ensuring the safety and airworthiness of all aircraft. The grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft demonstrates the commitment to addressing any potential safety concerns in a timely and thorough manner.
Passengers who may be affected by the grounding of these aircraft are encouraged to check with their airlines for any potential flight disruptions or changes. The FAA will continue to provide updates as the investigation into the incident progresses.