Faa investigation on Boeing: Alaska Airlines accident 'should never have happened'
The agency referred Boeing to the investigation in a letter 'to determine whether Boeing failed to ensure that the completed products conformed to the approved design'.
2' min read
2' min read
The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that it is launching a formal investigation into the Boeing 737 MAX 9 after a cabin panel blew up on an Alaska Airlines flight while it was in flight last week, forcing it to make an emergency landing.
The Faa grounded 171 Boeing jets fitted with the same panel after landing, most of which are operated by US airlines Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, pending safety inspections.
The Faa stated that the Alaska Airlines MAX 9 accident "should never have happened and cannot happen again". On Wednesday it referred Boeing to the investigation in a letter 'to determine whether Boeing failed to ensure that the completed products conformed to the approved design and were in safe operating condition in accordance with Faa regulations' and after learning of 'additional discrepancies'.
Both Alaska and United said Monday that they had found loose parts on several aircraft that had been grounded during preliminary inspections, raising new concerns about how Boeing's best-selling jet family is manufactured.
Carriers still need revised inspection and maintenance instructions from Boeing. These instructions must be approved by the Faa before the company can start flying aircraft again.
