The weeks-long standstill of Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft after a near miss in January resulted in high costs for the aircraft manufacturer. In the past quarter, Boeing paid Alaska Airlines approximately $160 million (approximately €148 million) in compensation for lost revenues and additional costs incurred. Further compensation is expected, but the details are confidential, Alaska Airlines said Thursday.
In the January incident involving an almost new Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 Max, a fuselage fragment broke off in seat row 26 shortly after takeoff. The more than 170 people on board largely escaped the horror. However, it was only by a stroke of luck that the two seats near the hole in the fuselage remained empty and the aircraft was still at a relatively low altitude.
Improvement in quality controls required
According to initial investigations, the accident investigation authority NTSB assumes that four mounting bolts were missing from the fuselage section. Evidence suggests the fragment continued to slide upward until it broke out on the machine’s 154th flight, NTSB Chief Jennifer Homendy said at a U.S. Senate hearing. It is known that the fuselage fragment was removed and reinstalled at the Boeing factory for rework. However, the company has not yet been able to find any documents about this and make them available to the researchers. Boeing is under increased pressure to improve quality controls after the incident. CEO Dave Calhoun recently announced his retirement.
In addition to Alaska Airlines, the major American airline United also had to ground many planes until the end of January after the incident.
Source: Krone
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