A Southwest Airlines LUV Boeing 737 Max 8 experienced an unusual rolling motion during a flight from Phoenix to Oakland. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now investigating the incident.
What Happened: The FAA is looking into a potential issue with the aircraft’s backup power-control unit, CBS News reported on Friday. The incident occurred on May 25, and the FAA, along with Boeing BA and the National Transportation Safety Board, is conducting a thorough investigation.
The aircraft experienced a “Dutch roll,” a combination of yawing and rocking from wingtip to wingtip, at an altitude of approximately 32,000 feet. The pilots managed to safely land the plane in Oakland, and no injuries were reported among the 175 passengers and six crew members.
Following the landing, an inspection revealed damage to the unit responsible for providing backup power to the rudder. This incident is particularly significant, as it is the first of its kind reported by Southwest Airlines, which has not encountered similar issues with its other Max jets.
Why It Matters: This incident adds to the ongoing scrutiny of Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft. The 737 Max has been under intense regulatory scrutiny due to a series of safety concerns and incidents, including a door plug blowing out of a new Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9, which led to a temporary grounding of that Max version.
Boeing’s safety and quality issues have been a subject of concern, with the company’s outgoing CEO, Dave Calhoun, scheduled to testify before a U.S. Senate panel on June 18. This hearing will cover a range of issues, including the FAA’s decision to halt the production of the 737 MAX after a door panel malfunctioned on a flight operated by Alaska Airlines in January.
Boeing’s ongoing production issues have also caused uncertainty in its supply chain, with suppliers grappling with fluctuating production rates and the cost of excessive inventory. The industry has been dealing with price cuts and inconsistent production due to the COVID-19 pandemic and two fatal crashes that grounded the Max worldwide.
The incident also comes amid increasing cases of turbulence in flights. Last month, severe turbulence on a Boeing 777-300ER operating for Singapore Airlines from London to Singapore left one person dead and several injured. Days later, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner by Qatar Airways also experienced turbulence leaving twelve people injured.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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