Safety Issues and Industry Impact

The Boeing 737 Max has been in the spotlight lately, and not for good reason. The aircraft has been marred by serious problems over the years, with the latest incident involving a Boeing 737 Max 9 model flying at 16,000 feet shortly after takeoff from Oregon. During flight, a portion of the plane’s body detaches to provide passengers with a clear view of the sky. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of this type of aircraft and the methods used by the industry to ensure aircraft safety.

“If it’s not Boeing, I’m not going.” It’s an old saying among pilots:

Alaska Airlines Incident Investigation

The aircraft involved in the latest accident was the Boeing 737 Max 9, a newer model than the 737 Max 8s, which were involved in crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019. These crashes grounded about 400 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft for more than 18 months.

Initial findings from the recent incident suggest a loose bolt on a dismantled part (a plug used to fill an unused door hole) and a “quality control issue” may have been the cause. Following the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded approximately 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft worldwide until further safety inspections were conducted.

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Independent aviation analyst Robert Mann Jr. believes the Model 9’s problems could be related to suppliers or the aircraft’s manufacturing process. Images circulating on social media suggest similar door plug issues in other Model 9s, further fueling the speculation.

But Bjorn Fehrm, an analyst at aviation industry publication Leeham News, believes it would have been a “frivolous affair” if the screws had not been fully tightened. Fehrm suggests that the bolt is not designed to secure to the door plug. Then a question arises: What causes these problems?

FAA’s Role and Outsourced Inspections

The FAA plays a critical role in ensuring aircraft safety. In theory, the FAA verifies the airworthiness of an aircraft, certifying it to fly safely. However, in practice, these reviews are often delegated to third-party organizations designated to provide certification.

Considering that monthly production is between 30 and 60 aircraft and aircraft containing approximately 4 million parts, it is perhaps understandable why the FAA relies on third parties. However, the recent Boeing accident raises questions about the effectiveness of this approach.

Boeing and its impact on the aviation industry

These events undoubtedly had a serious impact on Boeing’s reputation and financial standing. Boeing shares fell 8% on their first day of trading following the latest crash, and the cost to the FAA of grounding 171 planes is estimated to be $2.3 million per day.

But the impact extends beyond Boeing. The aviation industry relies heavily on two giant manufacturers: Airbus and Boeing. The grounding of the 737 Max 9s led to canceled flights and the need for aircraft replacements, underscoring the industry’s dependence on these manufacturers.

What happens now? While it is still unclear what the long-term impact will be, what is clear is that these accidents have significantly damaged Boeing’s reputation and raised important questions about safety standards and practices in the aviation industry.