New Delhi: An inspection of all 40 Boeing 737 Max planes operated by Indian airlines has revealed a missing washer on one aircraft, as reported by the aviation regulator DGCA on Tuesday. Consequently, Boeing has issued a global call to inspect all 737 Max airplanes, totaling over 1,300 in active use, within 24 hours for potential loose hardware.
Among the 40 planes registered to Indian airlines, Akasa Air owns 22, SpiceJet has nine, and Air India Express has nine. While 39 planes showed no issues during checks, the 40th exhibited a missing washer, prompting immediate action in line with Boeing’s recommendations.
Boeing is facing increased scrutiny after a recent mid-air door blow-out incident on a new Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9, endangering 177 passengers. This incident adds to a series of mishaps and crashes involving the flagship jet, including a global grounding between March 2019 and December 2020 following two fatal crashes that claimed 345 lives.
On Monday, DGCA initiated checks on India-registered 737 Max 8 aircraft, specifically focusing on the operation and proper closure of over-wing emergency exits. Notably, no Indian airline operates the Max 9 version of the Boeing plane.
Adding to concerns, both Alaska and United Airlines reported loose hardware on other 737 Max 9 planes. United identified “installation issues in the door plug,” requiring additional tightening, while Alaska found “loose hardware on some aircraft.”
Sources indicated that United Airlines discovered “installation issues” on 10 planes, with the possibility of an increased number. On Friday, an Alaska Airlines plane experienced an emergency landing after a pressurization issue led to a blown-out window panel. The crew successfully landed the plane, and no major injuries were reported despite the dramatic incident.
The incident prompted the grounding of all Max 9 planes by the American aviation regulator, leading to numerous flight cancellations. The US’ Federal Aviation Authority also ordered immediate inspections of all Max 9s worldwide. The Max 9 constitutes only a fraction of the 737 Max planes currently in service.
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