DGCA Orders Inspection For Boeing 737-8 Fleet After Alaska Door Blows Out

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) civil aviation regulator, instructed airlines on Saturday to conduct a comprehensive one-time inspection of all Boeing 737-8 aircraft in their fleets. This directive followed an emergency landing made by an Alaska Airlines flight after one of its doors blew open mid-air on Friday.

The incident involved a Boeing 737-9 Max flying from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California. As a precautionary measure, the airline had grounded all its B737 Max 9 aircraft for checks.

Although India doesn't currently operate B737-9 Max aircraft, the country has 43 B737 MAX planes among various airlines. This includes 22 with Akasa Air, 13 with SpiceJet B737, and eight with Air India Express.

The DGCA's statement clarified that Boeing had not yet shared any information regarding the incident. It stated, "Despite the Alaska Airlines incident involving the Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft, there have been no updates or guidance from Boeing. None of the Indian air operators have Boeing 737-9 Max as part of their current fleet."

"As a precaution, the DGCA has instructed all Indian air operators to immediately conduct a one-time inspection of emergency exits on all Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft in their fleets," the statement continued.

Responding to this directive, a SpiceJet spokesperson affirmed, "We do not have any 737-9 Max in our fleet. SpiceJet will adhere to the DGCA directive on the Max-8."

Additionally, a spokesperson from Akasa Air emphasized their commitment to safety, stating, "At present, Akasa Air does not have any 737 Max-9 aircraft in its fleet, which was the aircraft type involved in the incident."

Earlier, Boeing had recommended inspecting the entire B737 Max fleet after an international operator found a bolt missing a nut during routine maintenance. Boeing assured in a statement issued on December 29 that the identified issue had been addressed and recommended operators inspect their 737 MAX aircraft as a precautionary measure. They pledged to update the FAA on their progress.