United Airlines has grounded its entire fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft after a chilling incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight, which saw a panel blowout mid-flight, according to WGN-TV. The move is set to cause a wave of cancellations and travel disruptions, stranding passengers as FAA-required inspections take place. The directive from the Federal Aviation Administration sent United scrambling to remove 79 planes from service with the expectation of significant operational impacts.
Saturday's drama unfolded as a frightful scene above Portland when a 737 Max 9 lost part of its fuselage, leading to an emergency return to the airport. The FAA has since swooped in to command an immediate grounding of the model, affecting about 171 planes globally. ABC7 Chicago cites Alaska Airlines, who was forced to quickly inspect 65 of their aircraft. Notably, 18 planes were already inspected and cleared to return to skies, while the rest are still being reviewed.
United Airlines, in a bid to reassure passengers and comply with the FAA, stated, "We are working with the FAA to clarify the inspection process and the requirements for returning all MAX 9 aircraft to service," as communicated in a statement to WGN-TV. The airline, based in Chicago, was not alone in the logistical nightmare; Alaska Airlines had to cancel 160 flights on Saturday alone, impacting around 23,000 guests. They expect disruptions to spill over into the week as their fleet undergoes scrutiny.
Travelers aboard the troubled Alaska Airlines flight faced a surreal hazard when part of the plane peeled away shortly after takeoff. The near-catastrophic event turned thankfully less tragic as no major injuries were reported. The company's CEO, Ben Minicucci, offered a somber apology in a statement to ABC7 Chicago, "My heart goes out to those who were on this flight - I am so sorry for what you experienced." The NTSB is set to investigate what could easily have been a deadly incident on a plane that had barely notched two months in service.
Anthony Brickhouse, an aerospace safety expert, expressed shock in an interview with ABC7 Chicago, emphasizing the rarity of such events, especially in newer aircraft. The Alaska Airlines plane had completed just 145 flights since November. This development is yet another setback for Boeing's 737 MAX line, previously grounded for nearly two years following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.
