The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an order for Indian airlines to conduct inspections of emergency exits on all Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft. This directive comes in the aftermath of a mid-flight incident involving Alaska Airlines in the U.S., where a section of the cabin panel was lost, prompting an emergency landing on Friday.
Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737 Max 9, operating Flight 1282 from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, experienced an outer section, including a window, detaching minutes into the flight. The aircraft, with 177 passengers and crew on board, safely returned to Portland following the incident.
In response, the Indian aviation regulator has urged airlines operating in the country to inspect emergency exits on Boeing 737-8 Max planes. This precautionary measure aligns with Alaska Airlines’ decision to ground all its Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes after the emergency landing in Oregon. Passengers reported a window panel blowing out after takeoff.
Flight 1282 departed from Portland International Airport on Friday evening and returned safely around 20 minutes later due to a reported “pressurization issue,” according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci stated, “Following tonight’s event on Flight 1282, we have decided to take the precautionary step of temporarily grounding our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft.” He further explained that each aircraft would return to service only after undergoing comprehensive maintenance and safety inspections, with the anticipation that checks would be completed within a few days. The DGCA official, quoted by PTI, emphasized that these one-time checks would not cause delays as they would be conducted during the night halt of the aircraft.
Presently, Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have Boeing 737-8 Max planes in their fleets.
