According to India’s aviation regulator, DGCA, a safety assessment of 40 Boeing 737 Max jets operated by Indian airlines detected a missing part—a washer—on one of the aircraft. This discovery has prompted Boeing to issue a global request to inspect all of its 737 Max aircraft, totaling over 1,300 in active service, within 24 hours for “possible loose hardware.”
The 40 737 Max planes registered to Indian airlines are distributed among Akasa Air (22), SpiceJet (nine), and Air India Express (nine). While checks on 39 planes showed no issues, the inspection on the 40th revealed the absence of a washer. The DGCA confirmed that necessary actions, as recommended by Boeing, have been taken.
Boeing faces intensified scrutiny following a mid-air incident on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 plane, where a door blow-out endangered the lives of 177 passengers. This incident adds to a growing list of mishaps involving Boeing’s flagship jet, including a worldwide grounding between March 2019 and December 2020 after two separate crashes resulted in 345 fatalities.
On Monday, the DGCA initiated checks on India-registered 737 Max 8 aircraft, specifically focusing on reviewing the operation and proper closure of all over-wing emergency exits. Notably, no Indian airline operates the Max 9 version of the Boeing plane.
In a troubling development, both Alaska and United Airlines reported loose hardware on other 737 Max 9 planes on Monday. United Airlines identified “installation issues in the door plug,” requiring additional tightening of bolts, while Alaska Airlines found “loose hardware” on some aircraft. Sources suggest that United Airlines found “installation issues” on 10 of its planes, with Alaska Airlines yet to disclose the number of affected planes.
Last Friday, an Alaska Airlines plane made an emergency landing due to a reported pressurization issue. Terrifying images on social media depicted a blown-out window panel, leaving a hole in the side of the plane at an altitude of over 16,000 feet. Although the pilots successfully landed the plane, no major injuries were reported, despite oxygen masks being deployed and personal items being sucked out.
These safety concerns have prompted a worldwide grounding of Max 9 planes, with the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority ordering “immediate inspections” of all Max 9s globally. The aviation industry remains vigilant as investigations unfold and corrective measures are implemented to ensure passenger safety.