Boeing's troubled 737 Max 9 aircraft suffered another blow on Tuesday, when Alaska Airlines grounded its fleet of 13 planes after one of them experienced a mid-air window blowout that also damaged part of the fuselage.
The incident occurred on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, which was flying from Portland, Oregon, to San Jose, California, with 117 passengers and six crew members on board. Shortly after takeoff, a plug filling an unused emergency exit window popped out, causing a rapid decompression of the cabin and a loud bang. A chunk of the fuselage also broke away, exposing the insulation and wiring.
The pilots declared an emergency and returned to Portland, where they landed safely. No injuries were reported, but some passengers said they felt dizzy and nauseous from the sudden drop in pressure and oxygen levels. The passengers were rebooked on other flights or offered hotel accommodations.
Alaska Airlines said it was working with Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to investigate the cause of the incident, and that it had temporarily grounded its 737 Max 9 planes "out of an abundance of caution". The airline said it expected to resume flying the planes by Wednesday, after conducting thorough inspections and tests.
Boeing said it was aware of the incident and was providing technical assistance to the airline and the regulators. The company said it had no indication that the incident was related to the design or performance of the 737 Max 9, which is a larger and longer-range version of the 737 Max 8.
The 737 Max 9 is one of the variants of the 737 Max family, which was grounded worldwide for 20 months after two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people. The crashes were linked to a faulty flight control system that repeatedly pushed the nose of the planes down, overriding the pilots' inputs.
Boeing has since made software and hardware changes to the system, and the FAA cleared the 737 Max to return to service in November 2020, after extensive reviews and tests. Other countries, such as Canada, Brazil, and the European Union, have also lifted the ban on the 737 Max, with some additional requirements and modifications.
However, Boeing has faced several other challenges and setbacks in its efforts to restore confidence in the 737 Max, which is its best-selling and most profitable product. The company has encountered manufacturing issues, such as faulty electrical wiring and improper drilling of holes, that have delayed the delivery and certification of some 737 Max planes. The company has also faced lawsuits, investigations, and fines from regulators, customers, and victims' families over its handling of the 737 Max crisis.
The latest incident involving Alaska Airlines adds to the woes of Boeing, which is struggling to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the aviation industry. The company reported a record loss of $11.9 billion in 2020, and saw its market share and reputation eroded by its rival Airbus.
Alaska Airlines, which is one of Boeing's loyal and longtime customers, has ordered 68 737 Max 9 planes, with options for 52 more. The airline received its first 737 Max 9 in January 2021, and began flying it in March 2021. The airline has praised the 737 Max 9 for its fuel efficiency, range, and passenger comfort, and has said it remains committed to the plane.
However, the window blowout incident has raised new questions and concerns about the safety and reliability of the 737 Max 9, and whether Boeing has adequately addressed the flaws and defects that have plagued the plane. The incident has also put the FAA under scrutiny, as the regulator has been accused of being too lenient and cozy with Boeing in its oversight and approval of the 737 Max.