Alaska Airlines mishap: DGCA asks airlines to inspect Boeing 737-8 Max emergency exits

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

American carrier Alaska Airlines, Indian aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on Saturday, asked airlines in the country to inspect the emergency exits on the Boeing 737-8 Maxs in their fleet.
Earlier on Friday, the window, emergency exit door, and the fuselage of an Alaska Airlines-operated Boeing 737-8 Max blew out during a flight, prompting the carrier to ground its fleet of Boeings.

According to a DGCA official, the regulator's latest move is a precautionary measure. «DGCA has directed all the Indian air operators to carry out a one-time inspection of the emergency exits immediately on all Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft currently operating as part of their fleet,» the official told PTI.

Alaska Airlines' Flight 1282 departed from Portland International Airport Friday evening before returning safely around 20 minutes later after cabin crew reported a «pressurization issue,» according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

PTI reports that the aviation body has not received any inputs or guidance from Boeing, in wake of the mishap.

Images posted on social media in the aftermath of the incident showed the window panel of a plane blown out, with emergency oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling.

«Following tonight's event on Flight 1282, we have decided to take the precautionary step of temporarily grounding our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft,» Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement.

«Each aircraft will be returned to service only after completion of full maintenance and safety inspections,» he said, anticipating checks would be finished in a few days.

The DGCA official quoted by PTI also emphasised that there would be no delays due to the inspections. «No, these one-time