FAA orders temporary grounding of some 737 Max jets

The move affects about 171 planes worldwide, according to a statement by the FAA. Alaska, the world’s second biggest operator of the type, already grounded its Max 9 fleet in the wake of Friday’s incident after takeoff from Portland, Oregon. United Airlines Holdings Inc., the model’s top operator, also took some of the jets out of service for inspections.

“Safety will continue to drive our decision-making as we assist the NTSB’s investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a post on X.

The forced grounding marks the most severe response to an incident since the manufacturer’s entire fleet of Max aircraft was temporarily taken out of service in 2019 following two deadly crashes. The 737 Max is by far Boeing’s most popular aircraft and its biggest source of revenue, with single-aisle aircraft like the Max and the corresponding Airbus SE A320neo family used the most widely flown shorter routes.

Only two US airlines operate the 737 Max 9 variant: United, with 78, and Alaska with 65, based on data from FlightRadar24. Alaska Airlines said in an update that it had completed inspection on “more than a quarter” of its 737-9 fleet, without making any concerning findings. The carrier will begin returning the jets to service once the “inspections are completed with our full confidence,” it added.

Flight 1282 was carrying 171 passengers and six crew from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California on Jan. 5 when about 20 minutes into the journey, the crew reported a pressurization issue. What followed was a rear left part of the fuselage blowing out, leaving the hole resembling the opening for a door, all at a flight altitude of about…