Safety Concerns Ground Boeing 737 Max 9 Planes: Urgent Inspections Required, US

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an order to temporarily ground certain Boeing 737 Max 9 planes following an incident where a window detached mid-flight on an Alaska Airlines flight. The FAA stated that immediate inspections of these aircraft would be required, affecting approximately 171 planes globally. Safety inspections for each plane are expected to take between four and eight hours. The move comes after a window blew out on an Alaska Airlines flight from Portland to Ontario, forcing an emergency landing. No serious injuries were reported among the passengers and crew. Alaska Airlines has grounded all 65 of their Boeing Max 9 planes and stated that each aircraft will only be returned to service after undergoing thorough maintenance and safety inspections. United Airlines also operates the same aircraft and expects around 60 flight cancellations due to the grounding. Both airlines are working with affected customers to find alternative travel options. Boeing expressed regret over the incident and voiced support for the FAA’s decision. The focus remains on safety as the FAA and NTSB continue their investigations.