New York: US regulators approved a thorough inspection framework on Wednesday, allowing Boeing 737 MAX jets grounded following an emergency landing earlier this month to return to service.
Shortly after the Federal Aviation Administration revealed inspection protocols for the Boeing 737 MAX 9, United Airlines said it expected grounded aircraft to resume operation on Sunday.
“We will only return each MAX 9 aircraft to service once this thorough inspection process is complete,” said Toby Enqvist, United’s chief operations officer.
“We are preparing aircraft to return to scheduled service beginning on Sunday.”
The FAA’s announcement comes after the agency grounded 171 MAX 9 jets following an issue on an Alaska Airlines flight on January 5.
The Boeing 737 MAX jets share the same configuration as the Alaska Airlines jet that had a fuselage panel blowout, exposing passengers to open air and demanding an emergency landing.
The event did not result in any injuries, but safety experts say it might have been devastating.
The FAA’s “enhanced maintenance” approach requires airlines to verify specific bolts and fittings, conduct extensive visual inspections of plugs and components, and rectify “any damage or abnormal conditions,” according to the agency.
