FAA grounds 737 Max 9 Aircraft Indefinitely after Alaska Airlines incident

[jakeseven7]

Just an interesting data point.

Family member was booked onto a VA2 Max flight (originally it was a 738 at point of booking some point changed for some reason). Very uncomfortable to fly this variant at all even though the Alaska incident was the -9.

I called VA2 customer service to try and move them to next available. First line was the usual computer says no (usual response for VA2 overseas call centre) but on pushing a little - not much, they caved and moved them, completely for free.

Dows VA2 have a quiet policy to enable people to move for free? Or how would the call centre have processed it….?
I know the US carriers allow/were allowing people to move off MAX flights for free.

Just thought would share…

 

[Bundy Bear]

Now the blame is back on Boeing

Errors by Boeing at Renton plant led to Alaska Airlines MAX 9 blowout, industry source says

The piece that blew off an Alaska Airlines jet this month was removed and re-installed improperly by Boeing mechanics in Renton, according to a person familiar with the details of the work.

www.seattletimes.com

Boeing, not Spirit, mis-installed piece that blew off Alaska MAX 9 jet, industry source says​

 

[KSC]

Now the blame is back on Boeing

Errors by Boeing at Renton plant led to Alaska Airlines MAX 9 blowout, industry source says

The piece that blew off an Alaska Airlines jet this month was removed and re-installed improperly by Boeing mechanics in Renton, according to a person familiar with the details of the work.

www.seattletimes.com

Boeing, not Spirit, mis-installed piece that blew off Alaska MAX 9 jet, industry source says​

Great news for Airbus sales reps.

 

[jb747]

Great news for Airbus sales reps.

I wonder. The Airbus production lines are booked out for years already. If you don't have a large order already in place, you may not have much alternative to the 737.

 

[elanshin]

Perhaps this is where Comac and the C919 starts to look a bit better especially in countries that are a bit friendlier to China politically.

 

[Harrison_133]

The FAA will allow 737 MAX 9s to return to service after completion of the required inspection and maintenance processes.

They are also blocking Boeing from ramping up production lines for the MAX until they can be satisfied the quality control issues have been resolved.

United will progressively return their MAX 9s to service starting this Sunday (28th).

Edit: Alaska will return their MAX 9s to service from Friday 26th, with more aircraft added each day as inspections are completed through to next week.

https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-halts-boeing-max-production-expansion-improve-quality-control-also-lays-out-extensive

https://x.com/airlineflyer/status/1750309814482157978?s=46&t=AddZ05_zi1N3-iAtBtuNtg

Information about Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 and our 737-9 MAX fleet - Alaska Airlines News

Latest updates & information can be found here.

news.alaskaair.com

 

[Flying Fox]

Even though it seems that the bulk of the current issue is on Spirit AeroSystems.

This is true but Boeing is the final supplier and hence is responsible for the product and carries the warranty. If there is any recourse, then its on Boeing to follow up with the supplier.

When I buy a Subaru and if it has a problem with the airbags, I don't call Takata, I call Subaru and take it to the Subaru dealer. They fix it and what happens after that isn't my problem.

 

[Quickstatus]

They fix it and what happens after that isn't my problem.

And whoever is ultimately responsible for the failed part is no concern to the car owner either - at the level of the repair

 

[Quickstatus]

A Boeing whistleblower explains what the potential root cause is (halfway down "whistleblower reveals what happened")

Youtuber Juan Browne (AA 777 FO) also has a video and refers to the whistleblower comments

 

[jb747]

Just watching Juan's video, and it would appear that Boeing opened the door to replace a seal, but didn't actually document it properly. So, then the question is what else isn't covered by their documentation? Work without records is deadly.

 

[codash1099]

 

[DejaBrew]

Just watching Juan's video, and it would appear that Boeing opened the door to replace a seal, but didn't actually document it properly. So, then the question is what else isn't covered by their documentation? Work without records is deadly.

Presumably this also hints as to the likely reason why the FAA is turning its attention to the 900ER?

 

[justinbrett]

Meanwhile, the wheels are falling off at Delta.

Nose wheel falls off Boeing 757 as Delta Air Lines flight prepares to take off from Atlanta airport

The plane was taxiing for departure when the wheel "came off and rolled down the hill". Almost 200 passengers were on board at the time, but no one was hurt.

news.sky.com

 

[KSC]

I wonder. The Airbus production lines are booked out for years already. If you don't have a large order already in place, you may not have much alternative to the 737.

Plays into the hand of don’t cancel your a321 orders and price negotiation leverage has an edge.
The whole ‘our doors are installed to not come off mid air’ is great selling point on many levels.
Any companies with split Boeing/Airbus fleet orders currently might rethink that strategy.

 

[Quickstatus]

opened

And it appears the problem stems from the difference check requirements for the work of "opening" the door compared to "removing" the door. For the door plug they are one and the same - both require removal of the 4 locking pins. But the check requirements are very different. One requires a quality inspector and the other does not

The 4 locking pins are probably sitting on an engineers work table somewhere.

 

[jb747]

Meanwhile, the wheels are falling off at Delta.

Nose wheel falls off Boeing 757 as Delta Air Lines flight prepares to take off from Atlanta airport

The plane was taxiing for departure when the wheel "came off and rolled down the hill". Almost 200 passengers were on board at the time, but no one was hurt.

news.sky.com

They fall off pretty regularly. But at least this is not a brand new aircraft, and its wheels would have been removed dozens of times over its life. On the other hand, this is a 757, an aircraft that arguably should have completely displaced the 737 eons ago.

 

[tgh]

The 4 locking pins are probably sitting on an engineers work table somewhere.

Based upon the apparent state of American Aviation, they have probably been in landfill for a while.
No evidence, no smoking gun….gone….

 

[JohnM]

 

[pauly7]

Some more insight into Boeing woes…

Former Boeing employees warn production defects ignored by company and US aviation regulator put passengers at risk - ‘That plane shouldn’t have been built’​

A flood of whistleblowers are warning production defects on Boeing planes haven't been addressed by the company or the US regulator, putting travellers at greater risk of being involved in an incident.

'That plane shouldn't have been built': Former Boeing workers slam speed over safety culture

Former workers of aviation giant Boeing allege the aircraft manufacturer has cut corners on its production line to meet deadlines, resulting in defects going unnoticed and compromising safety.

www.abc.net.au

 

[KSC]

Some more insight into Boeing woes…

Former Boeing employees warn production defects ignored by company and US aviation regulator put passengers at risk - ‘That plane shouldn’t have been built’​

A flood of whistleblowers are warning production defects on Boeing planes haven't been addressed by the company or the US regulator, putting travellers at greater risk of being involved in an incident.

'That plane shouldn't have been built': Former Boeing workers slam speed over safety culture

Former workers of aviation giant Boeing allege the aircraft manufacturer has cut corners on its production line to meet deadlines, resulting in defects going unnoticed and compromising safety.

www.abc.net.au

Sad to hear that safety priority and focus is not profitable. Publicly listing this company has brought on many financial pressures that have taken Boeing away from its core safety and engineering focus.
I hope Boeing can get this balance right for the sake of public safety.