Some Boeing 737 MAX Planes Grounded Due to New Electrical Issue
Just as the Boeing 737 MAX started flying again, a new issue could ground more than 60 planes. On Friday the company said that a potential electrical system problem was discovered.
“Boeing has recommended to 16 customers that they address a potential electrical issue in a specific group of 737 MAX airplanes prior to further operations,” the company said in a statement on Friday. “The recommendation is being made to allow for verification that a sufficient ground path exists for a component of the electrical power system. We are working closely with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on this production issue. We are also informing our customers of specific tail numbers affected and we will provide direction on appropriate corrective actions.”
AP reports that the component in the electrical power system might not be correctly grounded, was unrelated to the flight-control system.
Boeing 737 Max jets were grounded worldwide in March 2019 after two crashes killed 346 people. The planes resumed flying in December after regulators in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere approved changes Boeing made to an automated flight-control system that played a role in the two crashes.
Southwest Airlines, which began flying the Max again last month, removed 30 of its 58 Max jets from its schedule to inspect them, even though the airline has not experienced any known problems related to the electrical issue. American Airlines has removed 17 of its 41 Max planes from service. United Airlines temporarily grounded 16 of its 30 Max planes. Alaska Airlines said it removed all four of its Max jets from service “to allow for inspections and for work to be done.”
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