Aviation

Flight Chaos: US Airlines May Be Affected by Boeing 737 MAX Inspection

Following a recent alarming incident on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 to Ontario, California, the FAA has issued a directive to temporarily suspend all boeing 737 max airplanes. This decision specifically targets boeing 737 max airlines used by U.S. airlines or operating within the United States.

According to FlightAware, which tracks commercial aircraft flights, as of Monday morning, United Airlines had canceled 226 flights, or 7% of its scheduled departures, and alaska airlines flight cancellation had canceled 141 flights, or 20% of its scheduled departures.

According to Alaska Airlines‘ flexible travel policy, customers who have cancelled flights can choose to be transferred to the next available flight or request a change or refund without paying any additional fees. In a post to Twitter, United stated that it is assisting clients in locating alternative travel arrangements.

pic.twitter.com/vpmip4rGI4
— United Airlines (@united) January 6, 2024

Every Boeing 737-9 Max equipped with a plug door will stay out of operation until the FAA ensures their safe return to service. To initiate this process, Boeing is required to furnish operators with instructions for inspections and maintenance. Although Boeing initially provided a set of instructions, they are currently revising it based on received feedback. Upon receiving the updated instructions from Boeing, the FAA will conduct a thorough review.

The primary factor determining the timeline for the Boeing 737-9 Max’s return to service is the safety of the flying public, prioritizing caution over speed.

The FAA has endorsed a compliance method for the Boeing 737-9 emergency airworthiness directive, and this information has been communicated to the affected operators.

Aviation

Lost Tool Found in Qantas A380 After 34 Flights

An Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation recently revealed that a Qantas A380 operated 34 flights with a 1.25-meter nylon tool lodged in one of its engines.

This turning tool, used during borescope inspections to rotate the intermediate-pressure compressor, was left behind during scheduled maintenance at Los Angeles on December 6, 2023. It remained inside the engine until it was discovered by maintenance staff during a subsequent check at Los Angeles on January 1, 2024.

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The ATSB report highlights two critical lapses. First, maintenance engineers failed to notice the tool during final checks for foreign objects after the borescope inspection. Second, the lost tool procedure was not activated when the tool was identified as missing.

The certifying engineer ultimately cleared the aircraft for service without accounting for the misplaced tool. During the time qantas films the tool was inside, the A380 completed 34 flight cycles, accumulating nearly 294 hours without any noticeable effect on engine performance.

Although the tool was deformed by high-energy airflow within the engine, there was no reported damage to the engine itself. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell commented.

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“This incident underscores the importance of following established maintenance protocols. Engineers missed the tool during foreign object checks, and the required lost tool procedure wasn’t started after realizing the tool was missing.”

Following the investigation, the airline issued a safety directive, urging all engineering and tool storage teams to adhere strictly to these protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.

A qantas spokesperson stated, “While the tool didn’t impact engine performance, we take this incident very seriously. It is critical to follow the correct lost tool procedures.”