The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed Indian carriers to immediately inspect the emergency exits on all Boeing 737 Max planes in their fleets, as a precautionary measure following an incident involving an Alaska Airlines aircraft on January 13.
On Friday, the fuselage of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 Max plane ripped open at 32,000 feet just minutes after taking off from Seattle, causing rapid decompression. A large section on the side of the aircraft tore away, including one of the passenger windows. The plane made an emergency landing in Portland, with no serious injuries reported among the 177 passengers and crew.
Boeing 737 Max Returns to Service After Grounding
The Boeing 737 Max was grounded worldwide in 2019 after two deadly crashes exposed issues with its flight control software. After extensive modifications and new pilot training requirements, the DGCA approved the 737 Max to return to service in August 2021.
SpiceJet was the first Indian carrier to resume 737 Max operations last November. Currently, Air India Express and newcomer Akasa Air also have Max jets in their fleets. While the latest incident involved the larger 737-9 model, the DGCA has asked local operators to inspect the 737-8 variant as a precaution.
Flash:#AlaskaAirlines temporarily grounded its entire fleet of #Boeing 737-9 aircraft. The decision came after one of the planes experienced mid-air emergency on Friday (local time) when an exit door detached from aircraft, leading to an urgent landing in #Portland.
Soon after… pic.twitter.com/8VVdBPExkS
— Yuvraj Singh Mann (@yuvnique) January 6, 2024
Inspections Target Emergency Exits
As per the DGCA directive, airlines must immediately inspect the emergency exits on every Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft in their fleet. These one-time checks will take place during the plane’s nightly layover to avoid impacting flight schedules.
The emergency exits include the doors through which passengers deplane during an evacuation as well as the large hatches flight attendants use. Their operability is critical, especially in a rapid decompression situation similar to the Alaska Airlines incident.
NTSB Investigating Cause of Fuselage Damage
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating what caused the fuselage rupture on the Alaska Airlines 737-9. The plane involved had only been delivered in December and was just two months old, with fewer than 150 flights.
One area of focus is a potential manufacturing defect. The Max model has suffered previous issues like improper cabin wiring and unsecured engine bolts that Boeing had to correct. The NTSB findings will determine if any design modifications or maintenance procedure changes are required.
Aviation Regulators Acting Out of Abundance of Caution
Aviation regulators worldwide tend to act conservatively when an anomaly emerges with an aircraft model. The DGCA’s order to inspect Max emergency exits aims to confirm their integrity as a precaution, before any firm conclusions are reached regarding the Alaska Airlines incident.
Given the Max’s history, regulators will likely order preemptive checks or temporary restrictions if any suspicion arises, to ensure passenger safety remains the top priority. The attention given to this event shows the cautious approach now being taken with the Max by all parties.
While the inspections may cause temporary inconvenience, they underscore the enhanced oversight and rigor applied to the Max’s return to service. The DGCA continues to monitor the situation and will take appropriate action based on emerging details from the NTSB’s investigation. For now, the Max remains approved for operation in India as long as all regulatory directives are followed.
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