Indian airlines which operate the newly-built Boeing 737 Max passenger aircraft are carrying out inspections after an alert over a loose bolt in the aircraft came in from the US.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been in constant contact with the airlines — Akasa, Air India Express and SpiceJet — which operate the aircraft and is closely monitoring the situation.
The DGCA — India’s aviation regulator — said that it is also in touch with its US counterpart — Federation Aviation Administration — and Boeing, adding that, planes are being checked to ensure safety.
NDTV quoted DGCA’s statement saying, “This has been an ongoing issue with Max 737 and these are service bulletins issued from time to time by Boeing to the airline operators for the suggested action whenever any issue is come across. We have been in touch with Boeing, FAA and our airline operators in the past too on such issues concerning 737 Max.”
The DGCA further noted that, “In such cases, mitigation as recommended by the Original Equipment Manufacturers is carried out by the airline operator as has been done in the past in respect of 737 Max.”
The fresh checks in India come after the US aviation regulator, FAA, said that it is closely watching the inspections of Boeing 737 Max aircraft to look for a loose bolt in the rudder control system.
Boeing — the manufacturer of the aircraft — said that the issue, which was identified on a particular plane, has been fixed. It asked all the airlines to conduct fresh inspections of their 737 Max fleet.
Reportedly, an Akasa Air spokesperson said that Boeing had alerted them about the issue, adding that, “Like all operators around the world, and in accordance with our highest safety standards, Akasa will be following the same checks and procedures that the manufacturer or regulator recommends. Our operating fleet and deliveries are not impacted so far.”
Meanwhile, SpiceJet noted that the inspection alert will not affect its operations.
The Boeing 737 Max aircraft was banned worldwide in 2019 after two major crashes — in a span of less than five months — killed 346 people. The DGCA in 2021, lifted the ban from Boeing 737 Max, giving it permission to fly with immediate effect.
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