FAA Releases New Statement on Boeing 737 MAX 9 Incident

In a new statement, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has emphasised its commitment to rigorous safety standards following an incident involving a Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. The FAA's investigation seeks to determine if Boeing has failed to ensure its completed products conform to approved designs and are in a condition for safe operation, in line with FAA regulations. This probe was initiated after a Boeing 737-9 MAX, in operation for just eight weeks, lost a "plug" type passenger door during a flight, leading to minor injuries onboard.

Boeing's manufacturing practices are under close examination to ensure they meet the high safety standards required by law. The FAA, in its statement, has made it clear that the safety of the flying public is their foremost concern, stating, "This incident should have never happened and it cannot happen again."

The FAA has grounded every Boeing 737-9 Max with a plug door until they are deemed safe for operation. This action necessitates Boeing to provide comprehensive inspection and maintenance instructions to operators. Boeing has submitted an initial set of instructions, which is under revision following feedback. The FAA will conduct a thorough review of the revised instructions before any decision on the fleet's return to service is made.

This incident adds to the ongoing scrutiny of Boeing’s 737 MAX fleet. In 2019, the global grounding of all MAX planes lasted 20 months due to crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia, linked to design flaws. As the FAA continues its investigation, the timeline for the 737-9 Max's return to service remains undetermined, with the FAA underscoring that "the safety of the flying public, not speed, will determine the timeline".