American Airlines' pilots union has reported a "significant spike" in safety issues, citing problematic trends such as fewer routine aircraft inspections and shorter test flights on planes following major maintenance work. The union highlighted incidents of tools and items being left in wheel wells and sterile areas around planes parked at airport gates. The airline has increased the time between routine inspections and ended overnight maintenance checks unless a plane is flagged for special attention. The pilots union has raised concerns with the company and management's initial response was encouraging, while American Airlines stated it has a robust safety program in collaboration with the FAA and unions.
The head of the US aviation regulator has announced plans to increase safety checks on Boeing planes following a recent incident where a door plug broke off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max. Concerns about manufacturing standards have been raised after loose bolts and fixings were found in inspections, prompting scrutiny of Boeing's compliance with safety requirements. The FAA is conducting a comprehensive review of Boeing's safety culture and has emphasized its commitment to the safety of the flying public.
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci announced that 110-150 flights will be unavailable due to mandatory inspections of their 737-9 MAX aircraft, impacting about 20% of the total fleet. The FAA is investigating the recent in-flight blowout of a door plug and the manufacturing practices of Boeing aircraft. Travelers, including Adriene Smith and the Adams couple, experienced flight delays and cancellations, leading to inconvenience and stress. Alaska Airlines is offering a flexible travel policy for affected passengers.
United Airlines has discovered loose bolts and other parts on the plug doors of its 737 Max 9 jets during inspections prompted by a recent rapid depressurization incident on an Alaska Airlines jet of the same model. The issue has been found on at least five aircraft, and both United and Boeing have yet to comment on the findings.
Spirit Airlines canceled about 100 flights on Friday to conduct inspections on some of its aircraft, causing disruptions that are expected to last several days. The inspections, required by European and US regulators, are aimed at identifying signs of cracking around fasteners that attach pressure panels to beams on the planes' airframes. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that it will ensure the matter is addressed before the planes are returned to service. Spirit Airlines has canceled over 3,600 flights this year, representing 1.5% of its schedule.
Spirit Airlines has canceled 11% of its flights on Friday and 9% on Saturday due to necessary inspections of a small section of 25 of its aircraft. The inspections, which have not been specified, are expected to impact the airline's schedule for several days. The cancellations primarily involve Spirit's Airbus A319 aircraft, and flights from various airports across the US have been affected. The Federal Aviation Administration has classified the inspections as mandatory maintenance, and Airbus has been contacted for comment.
