US regulator grounds 737 Max 9 until it receives further data from Boeing

The FAA has halted all Boeing 737-9 Max flights following an in-flight emergency involving an Alaska Airlines plane. This pause continues until Boeing completes thorough inspections, prompted by a fuselage section detaching and compromising the aircraft's pressure integrity. These inspections will scrutinize cabin components including doors and fasteners.

This directive not only impacts Alaska Airlines but also United and other airlines flying the 737-9 Max. The recent incident is alarming because the aircraft was new, accredited just two months ago and had logged 145 flights.

Previous safety issues have plagued the Boeing 737 Max series, including two fatal crashes of the Max 8 variant, leading to a lengthy global grounding. Even after its return, concerns persisted with the series, such as with its anti-ice system and potential production defects.

The current measures reflect the FAA's continued vigilance over the 737 Max's safety. Inspections are estimated to require four to eight hours per aircraft. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines has canceled around 140 flights due to the grounding.