Image: PATRICK T. FALLON (APA/AFP/PATRICK T. FALLON)
To be on the safe side, airlines should check the panels in front of unnecessary emergency exits on 737-900ER aircraft, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced in Washington on Monday night. Boeing used the same design for the model as the newer 737-9 Max. The older 737-900ER is a variant of the Max predecessor 737 NG with an extended range (“ER” – Extended Range). In the fuselage of this type, as with the 737-9 Max, there is a frame on each side for an unnecessary emergency exit, which is closed with a solid fuselage part instead of a door.
More on the subject:
- US Federal Aviation Administration investigates Boeing after near-miss
- US aviation authority increases supervision at Boeing
Boeing variant with suspicious component is banned from flying
On January 5th, such a fuselage part broke off during the climb on an almost new Alaska Airlines aircraft of this type. The pilots were able to land the plane safely, and the 177 people on board were largely unscathed. The FAA has since banned the variant with this component from flying. Around 170 machines worldwide are affected.
According to Boeing, 505 copies of the 737-900ER were delivered. In addition to Alaska Airlines, one of its largest operators is the US company United Airlines.
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