Current:Home > MarketsWhat to know about the blowout on a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet and why most of the planes are grounded-InfoLens
What to know about the blowout on a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet and why most of the planes are grounded
View Date:2024-12-23 11:23:16
An emergency landing by an Alaska Airlines jetliner last Friday prompted U.S. authorities to ground most of Boeing’s 737 Max 9 aircraft, another black mark in the troubled history of the company’s Max jets. Here’s what you need to know.
WHAT WENT WRONG?
U.S. aviation authorities have begun an investigation focused on a paneled-over exit door — called a door plug — that blew off the passenger jet shortly after takeoff. Airlines have the option to install a door plug in place of an actual emergency exit door. While Boeing’s Max aircraft have been plagued with problems, no previous incidents have involved blowouts such as this one, which are exceedingly rare in air travel. None of the passengers or crew members on the flight were seriously injured.
WHICH PLANES ARE GROUNDED?
The emergency grounding order affected about 171 planes with installed door plugs, comprising the vast majority of the roughly 218 Max 9s in service around the world. Alaska and United Airlines are the only two U.S. passenger airlines that operate Max 9 aircraft.
WHAT HAVE INVESTIGATORS LEARNED?
Investigators said Sunday they had found the missing door plug and were examining it for clues. Alaska and United said Monday that preliminary inspections have identified what they called “loose hardware” or “bolts that needed additional tightening” in the door plugs of grounded aircraft.
ARE THESE PLANES UNSAFE?
There have been no U.S. jetliners involved in a fatal crash since 2009. But a surge in close calls between planes at U.S. airports prompted the FAA to convene a “safety summit” last year to emphasize the need for careful flying.
The Alaska Airlines incident has also renewed questions about the safety of Boeing’s Max 8 and Max 9 aircraft, the latest versions of the company’s storied 737, although previous issues were unrelated to Friday’s blowout. Max 8 planes were grounded for nearly two years after two crashes in 2018 and 2019.
veryGood! (89567)
Related
- Family of security guard shot and killed at Portland, Oregon, hospital sues facility for $35M
- Ferry that ran aground off the Swedish coast and leaked oil reported back in harbor
- Suspect charged with killing Tupac Shakur loses his lawyer day before arraignment in Vegas
- The FBI is investigating a Texas sheriff’s office, a woman interviewed by agents says
- See Chris Evans' Wife Alba Baptista Show Her Sweet Support at Red One Premiere
- Vanessa Hudgens Reveals If She'll Take Cole Tucker's Last Name After Their Wedding
- Large brawl at Los Angeles high school leaves 2 students with stab wounds; 3 detained
- Ex-Memphis officer accused in Tyre Nichols death takes plea deal, will testify in state trial
- New 'Yellowstone' is here: Season 5 Part 2 premiere date, time, where to watch
- UN plans to cut number of refugees receiving cash aid in Lebanon by a third, citing funding cuts
Ranking
- John Krasinski named People's Sexiest Man Alive for 2024
- Judge sets rules for research on potential jurors ahead of Trump’s 2020 election interference trial
- Listen to the last new Beatles’ song with John, Paul, George, Ringo and AI tech: ‘Now and Then’
- Hurricane Otis leaves nearly 100 people dead or missing in Mexico, local government says
- She's a trans actress and 'a warrior.' Now, this 'Emilia Pérez' star could make history.
- New Zealand’s final election count means incoming premier Christopher Luxon needs broader support
- Suspect charged with killing Tupac Shakur loses his lawyer day before arraignment in Vegas
- National Association of Realtors CEO stepping down; ex Chicago Sun-Times CEO tapped as interim hire
Recommendation
-
IAT Community Introduce
-
A county lawmaker in New York is accused of slashing a tire outside a bar
-
The Beatles release their last new song Now and Then — thanks to AI and archival recordings
-
Amazon used an algorithm to essentially raise prices on other sites, the FTC says
-
Vermont man is fit to stand trial over shooting of 3 Palestinian college students
-
'Yellowstone' final episodes moved to Nov. 2024; Paramount announces two spinoff series
-
A county lawmaker in New York is accused of slashing a tire outside a bar
-
Prince William Reveals Prince George Is a Budding Athlete