United Airlines and Alaska Airlines both reported on January 8 that preliminary inspections of their planes following a mid-flight incident last week found loose hardware on some of their Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes.
The claims surfaced as US federal transportation investigators are probing into the cause of the door plug component malfunction that resulted in an emergency landing of an Alaska Airlines passenger plane last Friday.
United Airlines said it had “found instances that appear to relate to installation issues in the door plug — for example, bolts that needed additional tightening.”
Hours later, Alaska Airlines announced its staff had found that “loose hardware was visible on some aircraft.”
Flights cancelled
The grounding of a portion of the MAX fleet amid an ongoing probe has led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights.
United Airlines, has so far canceled 200 MAX 9 flights and anticipates “significant cancelations” on Tuesday, the carrier said. United, with 79 MAX 9 planes, has the largest fleet of the aircraft in question.
“We’re working to return our Boeing 737 MAX 9s to service in the days ahead,” United said in a statement.
Alaska said: “The safety of these aircraft is our priority and we will take the time and steps necessary to ensure their airworthiness, in close partnership with the FAA.”
AeroMexico, which has suspended 19 planes, said it is in the “final phase” of inspections, adding, “we expect all MAX-9s in our fleet to return to operation in the upcoming days.”
Inspection protocols
Separately, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has asked flight operators to ground 171 jets with the same configuration with the door plug since the Alaska Airlines incident.
Boeing said late on Monday that while the operators conduct the required inspections, the company is staying in close contact with them and will help address any and all findings.
“We are committed to ensuring every Boeing airplane meets design specifications and the highest safety and quality standards. We regret the impact this has had on our customers and their passengers.”
Boeing shares tumble
Boeing’s shares dropped in Monday trading as investors started evaluating the financial impact of the incident. Additionally, US aviation authorities issued protocols to airlines for inspecting planes with configurations resembling the 737 MAX 9 aircraft involved in Friday’s incident.
Boeing has struggled with supply chain and quality control issues since the MAX, involved in two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, returned to service.
In December, Boeing advised airlines to conduct extra inspections on the plane’s rudder control system after an international operator found a bolt missing its nut during routine maintenance.
Analysts believe that following the latest incidents, Boeing could face slower government approvals for new jets or on proposed repairs.