FAA approves inspection process that could clear the way for grounded Boeing planes to fly again
Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners, which have been grounded since a side panel blew out of a plane in midflight earlier this month. The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that his agency's review of the scary incident on board an Alaska Airlines Boeing jet gave him confidence to clear a path for the planes to fly again.
The official, Mike Whitaker, said the FAA would not agree to any Boeing request to expand production of Max planes until the agency is satisfied that quality-control concerns have been addressed.
«This won't be back to business as usual for Boeing,» Whitaker vowed.
The production limits will apply only to the Max, of which there are currently two models, the 8 and the 9. Boeing builds about 30 a month but has wanted to raise production for some time.
Boeing said it will work with the FAA and the airlines to get the grounded planes back in the air.
«We will continue to cooperate fully and transparently with the FAA and follow their direction as we take action to strengthen safety and quality at Boeing,» the company said. «We will also work closely with our airline customers as they complete the required inspection procedures to safely return their 737-9 airplanes to service.»
A panel called a door plug blew off an Alaska Max 9 as it flew five kilometers above Oregon on January 5. The blowout left a hole in the side of the plane, but pilots were able to return to Portland and land safely.
The FAA grounded most Max 9s the next day. Alaska and United Airlines — the only U.S. carriers with Max 9s — have canceled hundreds of flights since then, and United said this week that it will lose money in the first three months of this
