Efforts to get Boeing’s 737 Max 9 cleared to fly again were delayed after the Federal Aviation Administration said instructions the company sent to airlines to inspect the planes on Monday were insufficient.
“Boeing yesterday provided an initial version of the instructions, which they are now revising due to comments received in response,” the FAA said in a statement. “Upon receiving the revised version of Boeing’s instructions, the FAA will conduct a thorough review. “The safety of the flying public, not speed, will determine the timeline for returning the Boeing 737-9 Max to service.”
The FAA had said Saturday that it would require inspections of the planes after a panel on one of them exploded during an Alaska Airlines flight on Friday. Although no serious injuries were reported, the incident exposed passengers to strong winds and raised new concerns about safety practices at Boeing. The company has struggled to regain public trust after two crashes involving the Boeing 737 Max 8 in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.
Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, the two largest operators of the Max 9, said Monday that they had found loose parts during preliminary inspections of the panel, also known as the door plug. The piece is installed where an emergency exit would be if the plane had the maximum number of seats possible.
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board recovered the door stopper, but said Monday they were still searching for some related pieces.
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun is expected to address employees at a public meeting Tuesday afternoon in the Seattle area where the company makes several of its planes, including the Max. Calhoun took over the company in January 2020 after his predecessor was forced to resign during the previous Max crisis.
This is a developing story. Please check for updates.
