Flights disrupted as regulatory body grounds Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes following blowout incidents

Several major airlines are facing flight cancellations after multiple Boeing jets were grounded due to a mid-flight incident in Oregon. The US aviation regulator, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), ordered 171 Boeing 737 Max 9s to be grounded for inspections following an incident where part of an Alaska Airlines plane's fuselage fell off. Alaska Airlines reported around 23,000 cancelled flights, with further disruptions expected. United Airlines and Turkish Airlines have also grounded planes. The required inspections are estimated to take four to eight hours per aircraft. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Turkish Airlines have all complied with the FAA orders. The incident occurred during Alaska Airlines flight 1282, with passengers onboard witnessing a large section of the plane's outer shell falling off shortly after take-off. The airplane safely landed back in Portland, and Alaska Airlines volunteered to ground 65 of its 737 Max 9 planes. The affected section of the aircraft, known as a plug door, is being searched for in the Cedar Hills community. The Boeing 737 Max has been closely scrutinized due to previous safety issues, including two crashes resulting in fatalities. However, aviation experts have noted that the incident with Alaska Airlines is unrelated to the previous grounding of the aircraft. The FAA has urged airlines to inspect Max models for possible loose bolts in the rudder control systems.