When you travel to Disney World, do you fly?
Orlando Airport
Well, if you do, you’ve probably already experienced a delay here and there or maybe even a flight cancelation. These things do sometimes happen. Well, delays might be even MORE common, at least over the next few months.
Earlier this month, an Alaskan Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing after a chunk of the plane’s fuselage was blown out. That resulted in flights with that particular type of plane, a Boeing 737-9 MAX, to be grounded until all the planes could be properly inspected.
©Alaska Airlines
In response to the incident, flights on United Airlines were also canceled. The two airlines are the only domestic carriers utilizing those particular planes. Overall, hundreds of flights ended up being canceled. Well, now, it looks like more flights could be delayed or canceled.
©Getty Images
The FAA is now suggesting that flights on Boeing 737-900ER planes also be thoroughly inspected. Although these are different planes from the 737-9 MAX, they still have the same door plug design that proved faulty in the 737-9 MAX. The FAA Safety Alert for Operators states:
“The Boeing 737-900ER mid-exit door plugs have an identical door plug design to the 737-9 MAX. As part of their Safety Management Systems, some operators have conducted additional inspections on the 737-900ER mid-exit door plugs and have noted findings with bolts during the maintenance inspections.”
Expect more flight delays and cancellations
If these planes are to be inspected, this will affect even more airlines, including Delta Airlines, who, according to Reuters, currently has 160 of these particular planes in its fleet. Alaska Airlines has 79 in its fleet, while United has 136.
©Delta
We’ll continue to keep an eye on the situation and keep you updated, so stay tuned to DFB for more.
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Thankfully the issue seems to have been identified and inspections (and even repairs) don’t seem like they’ll take very long. Let’s hope so. Until the next one?