On Friday, Alaska Airlines's Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft landed urgently in Portland, Oregon, causing the Federal Aviation Administration to order some US airlines to stop using some MAX 9 aircraft before completing the relevant inspection.This order affects about 171 aircraft owned by Alaska, United Airlines and other airlines.This incident has also triggered a new problem -the main aircraft of the main force that has frequently occurred in this year and the main force of a fatal crash has been safe.
No one was seriously injured in the incident on Friday.The fuselage ruptured in the air, leaving a door -sized hole on the side of the aircraft, and the jet passenger aircraft returned to Portland Airport.
A few hours after the accident, Alaska said that all 65 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft will be stopped until the mechanic can carefully check each aircraft.In the evening of Saturday, the Federal Aviation Bureau ordered other airlines to temporarily stop the aircraft.U.S. United Airlines has 79 Max 9s, which is the most affected airline.
On Saturday evening, Jennifer Hormadi, chairman of the National Security Transport Commission, who is responsible for investigating the crash of the plane, said that the door of an unused emergency door on the plane broke 10 minutes after flying away from the airport.The aircraft is at a height of about 5,300 meters.
Homani said that the investigators will compare the second emergency door on the other side of the aisle with the falling off with the falling off, hoping to determine what the problem is.She also said that investigators will also investigate the content of the pressure -voltage system and aircraft maintenance records.
Boeing spokesman Jessica Corval said in the statement, "We agree and fully support the decision of the Federal Air Management Bureau, that is, immediately check the 737-9 aircraft with the same affected aircraft configuration."
The specific problem that causes panic on Friday seems to be an isolated case, but the Boeing 737 MAX passenger aircraft may be the most worrying aircraft among all modern jet passenger aircraft at the current service.
What happened on Friday?
Alaska Airlines flight 1282 landed urgently at Portland airport 20 minutes after taking off. 171 passengers and six units were on board, which originally scheduled to fly to Ontario, California.
The passengers on the flight reported that they heard a loud noise, and then saw that a part of the fuselage broke in the air.
In a few minutes before the emergency descending, the oxygen mask suspended at the top of the cabin shakes, and the wind whispered from the large hole on the side. The passengers could not hear the emergency notice issued by the broadcast system.
Based on the standards of commercial airlines, the accident occurred on Friday.The aircraft registered in November last year and only recorded 145 flights.
737 Max's history?
2018 and 2019, in less than five months, two crash accidents occurred in Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, causing 346 people to die.Later, it was found that both crashed accidents were related to a system failure that ignored the pilot's instructions.
These cracks have caused Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to stop globally. Hundreds of planes parked on the apron around the world for nearly two years. The engineers worked hard to find out and solve the problem in order to re -certify the regulatory agency to re -certifyThese planes.
The first crash occurred in October 2018. At that time, a jet passenger plane that took off from Jakarta, Indonesia and 189 people fell into the Java Sea a few minutes after taking off.Four months later, another 737 MAX aircraft of Ethiopian Airlines crashed on the way to Siyabibaba, who was in Asia, and 157 people were killed on board, including eight crew members.
A few days later, President Trump announced that the US regulatory agency will suspend all Boeing 737 MAX flights, while investigators and Boeing will try to determine what a software system that should be safer to make the aircraft will play in the disaster.effect.
The US regulatory agency is one of the last batch of countries to stop the model, and it is a decision to make strict measures after the pressure is increased and other 42 countries take severe measures to prevent the accident.
The New York Times and other media reports finally disclosed that competitive pressure, design defects, and regulatory issues have played a role in the disturbing history of this aircraft.This aircraft is the best -selling aircraft in the history of Boeing. When the flight is grounded, the global airline pre -order orders are hundreds of billions of dollars.
What are the consequences?
Boeing agreed to reach a settlement with the Ministry of Justice in 2021 and pay $ 2.5 billion to solve the company's criminal allegations to deceive the Federal Air Management Bureau.The Air Management Bureau is responsible for regulating Boeing and evaluating its aircraft.
In 2022, Boeing increased a fine of 200 million US dollars in an agreement reached with the US securities regulatory agency because the company was accused of misleading investors, suggesting that man -made mistakes were the culprits of two fatal accidents.And cover up the company's concerns about the plane.
After 20 months of crash in Indonesia and Ethiopia, the aircraft was re -certified. Boeing estimated that the crisis caused a loss of $ 20.7 billion in the company.
Which airlines use 737 MAX 9?
MAX 9 is part of the Boeing Single Channel 737 MAX series. Depending on the seat configuration, up to 220 passengers can be equipped.According to data from the aviation analysis company Cirium, the United States United Airlines has 79 MAX 9s in service, which is the most among all airlines.Cirium said there were 215 MAX 9 aircraft worldwide in service.United Airlines and Alaska Airlines have about one -third of their planes.
Other companies using MAX 9 include Panama COPA Airlines and Mexican Airlines, Kazakhstan SCAT Air, Iceland Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Dubai Airlines.
A spokesman for Dubai Airlines said that the three 737 MAX 9 passenger planes in the fleet have completed the necessary safety inspection in the past 24 months. The company is waiting for the guidance of Boeing, and then further inspectionEssence
What will happen next?
major aviation safety accidents, including accidents that do not cause casualties, are usually immediately reviewed by the United States, the European Union, and Chinese regulatory agencies.
Investigators will examine everything: the design of aircraft; its manufacturing, maintenance and inspection history; weather; air traffic control decision -making; and the action of the crew.They will find the cause of the accident and the lessons of aviation safety.
In the Alaska Airlines incident, the plane was manufactured in the United States and lost a fuselage part when flying in the United States.Therefore, the National Transport Safety Commission will be the leading agency responsible for investigating the incident.
Safety survey may take several months, involving technical experts from airlines, unions and aircraft manufacturers (this time are Boeing) from the government and aircraft.
The Air Management Bureau does not need to wait for the report of the Safety Commission to decide whether to stop the aircraft of a certain model or order to check immediately.In any case, once the airline knows what to check, it usually checks the plane immediately.
What does it mean for aviation travelers?
Flight one of the main models of the industry may put pressure on passengers, because airlines have to cancel flights due to lack of aircraft with a lack of alternative aircraft.
Flight tracking website Flightaware's data shows that as of Sunday afternoon, United has canceled 253 flights, accounting for 9%of the flight arrangements on the day, but some of these flights may be due to the bad winter in northeast of the United States.weather.
cutAs of Sunday afternoon, Alaska Airlines had canceled 163 flights, accounting for 21%of its flight plan.
Alaska Airlines has released a "full system flexible travel policy" that allows passengers to cancel or change flights without paying any fees.The airline encourages passengers to use Alaska's website or application, instead of calling the airline's customer service hotline.
United Airlines flight status update can be checked online.If the flight is severely delayed, United Airlines will be exempted from signing fees or providing travel points or refund.The company has not released specific exemptions related to aircraft inspections and will further relax policies.
If the flight is delayed or canceled, passengers may have the right to get compensation and depend on the specific situation.
Christopher F. Schuetze is a Times reporter in Berlin, reporting the politics, society and culture of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.Click to view more information about him.
Keith Bradsher is the president of the Times Beijing Branch. He had previously served as the president of the Shanghai Branch, the president of the Hong Kong Branch, the president of the Detroit Branch, and a Washington reporter.He reported in China during the new crown epidemic.Click to view more information about him.
Melissa Eddy is a reporter in Berlin reporting German politics, business and economic issues.Click to view more information about her.
Translation: Jin Qijiao