US federal regulators have temporarily halted some Boeing 737 Max planes in American airspace following a mid-air incident involving an Alaska Airlines jet.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s emergency directive impacts approximately 171 jets globally, requiring carriers to conduct inspections, lasting four to eight hours per plane, before resuming flights.
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker emphasized the priority of safety and collaboration with the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282.
This development adds to Boeing’s challenges, as it grapples with manufacturing issues on the 737, compounded by the aftermath of a previous global grounding after two fatal crashes.
Alaska Airlines grounded 65 of its own jets following the incident during a flight from Portland, Oregon, to California.
