DGCA Orders Boeing 737-8 Max Emergency Exit Inspections Following Alaska Airlines Incident

In the wake of the recent mid-air emergency involving Alaska Airlines' Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft, India's aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a one-time inspection directive for the emergency exits of all Boeing 737-8 Max planes currently operating in the country. This move follows a similar directive from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for certain types of Max aircraft, impacting 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes worldwide.

The Alaska Airlines incident, which resulted in the temporary grounding of its entire fleet of 65 Boeing Max 9 aircraft, has raised global concerns. The FAA's emergency inspection is set to affect Max 9 planes of US Airlines and those within US territory, with each inspection anticipated to take 4-8 hours per aircraft.

The US National Transportation Safety Board is actively investigating the mid-air emergency, underscoring the gravity of the situation. The incident occurred during Alaska Airlines Flight AS1282 from Portland to Ontario, CA, when a Boeing 737 Max 9 experienced a mid-air door loss shortly after takeoff, compelling an emergency landing.

As of now, no Indian airline operates the Boeing 737-9 Max variant, and Boeing has not provided specific guidance regarding the incident. However, several Indian carriers, including Akasa, Air India Express, and SpiceJet, have Boeing Max 8 in their fleets, with Air India having an order for 190 Max aircraft. SpiceJet's Max-8 planes are mostly grounded, and Air India Express has already parked three out of its eight Max-8 planes.

The DGCA emphasized in an official statement that its directive is a precautionary measure, not a response to identified issues with the Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft in Indian service. The one-time inspection of emergency exits aims to verify the integrity and functionality of these critical safety components.

Indian air operators have been urged by the DGCA to promptly conduct inspections on their Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft and report any findings or concerns to the regulatory authority. Akasa Air, which operates 22 aircraft from the Boeing Max range, clarified that it does not have any 737 Max-9 aircraft in its fleet. The airline is actively monitoring developments, in contact with Boeing and regulators, and committed to following any issued guidance.

Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, is investigating the incident and has stated, "We are working to gather more information and are in contact with our airline customer." Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines reported that it has inspected over 25 aircraft from its 737-9 fleet, finding no concerns in the inspected planes. The airline expressed confidence in returning to service as inspections are completed.

With safety at the forefront, aviation authorities worldwide are closely monitoring the situation, and the results of these inspections will likely have far-reaching implications for the Boeing 737 Max series. As the investigation unfolds, the aviation industry remains on high alert, prioritizing passenger safety and the reliability of these widely used aircraft.