US authority orders inspection of thousands of Boeing jets
New Trouble for Boeing. The US aviation authority, FAA, announces an investigation into over 2500 machines from the manufacturer. The reason is potential issues with the oxygen generators on board. There is concern that oxygen masks in the cabins may not function properly in an emergency.
The FAA has ordered inspections on over 2600 Boeing-737 aircraft due to potential problems with the oxygen supply in an emergency. The airlines must check within 120 to 150 days if the oxygen generators, which are connected to the oxygen masks via hoses, are in the correct positions, as the FAA announced.
The agency is reportedly concerned that the oxygen masks may not function in an emergency. Boeing has been under intense pressure in the US since months due to allegations of safety issues with its aircraft.
According to the FAA, inspections regarding possible oxygen problems were ordered for 2612 Boeing 737-8, -9, -800, -700, -800 and -900ER aircraft registered in the USA. Affected are therefore models of both older and newer generations.
Since the beginning of the year, several technical incidents with Boeing machines have caused unease. In January, a part of the cabin wall came loose on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 of Alaska Airlines during the flight, forcing an emergency landing. The FAA then limited the production of the 737 MAX to 38 per month and thus to the level of 2023 and ordered a temporary flight ban.
Apart from the technical incidents, pressure on Boeing in the past months has also been increased by reports from several informants about defects in production and quality control. Most recently, the company admitted to misleading the authorities in a proceeding regarding two fatal 737 MAX crashes. The US Justice Department announced that the aircraft manufacturer had agreed to pay a fine of 243.6 million dollars.
The FAA's investigation extends to over 2500 Boeing aircraft, primarily the Boeing 737 Max. Due to economic operations in the USA, airlines must inspect the oxygen generator positions within a specific timeframe.
