The Timeline: Boeing’s Grounded Max 737-9

What first looked like it could be a swift response-and-recovery effort for the Boeing Max 737-9, which the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration grounded on January 6 after a door plug flew off during takeoff of a flight from Portland, Ore to Ontario, Calif., has turned into a prolonged investigation and deeper questioning of Boeing’s manufacturing and quality assurance processes, including appointing a special advisor to Boeing CEO David Calhoun. 

The fallout from the grounding for the U.S. air carriers—of which both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have the Max 9 in heavy rotation—and the flying public has been the cancellation of thousands of flights since the first week of January. Alaska Airlines said yesterday it would continue to cancel approximately 150 flights daily while the Max 9 remained grounded. Alaska confirmed that duration of Max 9-related cancellations would be at least through Monday, January 21.  

In the meantime, a bitter winter storm has impacted all U.S. airlines, complicating the reduced fleet situation for both United and Alaska. Data from FlightAware showed Alaska has cancelled 148 flights today and United has cancelled 191. The following is a timeline covering the latest Max 9-related developments first. BTN will add to this story as more information becomes available on how and when the Max 9 may return to the skies, and how Alaska and United are mitigating the impact to flight schedules.

Jan. 18: Alaska completed preliminary inspections on a group of Boeing Max 737-9 aircraft. It shared the data with Boeing and is waiting for next steps based on the data provided. Given the continued grounding order, the carrier extended its cancellation of flights using that aircraft through Sun., Jan. 21. Sister carrier Horizon Air is flying some routes that Alaska would normally fly with Max 737-9 planes.

Jan. 16: Boeing named U.S. Navy Retired Admiral Kirkland H. Donald as a special advisor to CEO Dave Calhoun effective immediately. Donald and a team of outside experts will conduct an assessment of Boeing's quality management system for commercial airplanes, including quality programs and practices in Boeing manufacturing facilities and its oversight of commercial supplier quality. In addition, United said cancellations of Max 737-9 flights would continue through Tuesday.

Jan. 13: Alaska said it will initiate and enhance its layers of quality control to the production of its Boeing airplanes. The carrier's quality and audit team began a review of Boeing's production quality and control systems and will partner with Alaska's maintenance team on the design of enhanced processes for its own quality control. It also starting this week will enhance its quality control of Alaska aircraft on the Boeing production line, expanding the team to validate the work on the 737 line.

Jan. 12: The FAA announced new actions to immediately increase oversight of Boeing production and manufacturing, including considering independent third-party entities to oversee those functions. The FAA also asked Boeing for additional data before the agency would approve the inspection and maintenance process for returning the Max 737-9 aircraft to service. In addition, Alaska and United announced plans to continue to cancel flights originally scheduled on Boeing Max 737-9 aircraft through at least Tues., Jan. 16. 

Jan. 11: The FAA sent a letter to Boeing announcing it had launched an investigation to determine if Boeing failed to ensure completed products conformed to its approved design and were in a condition for safe operation in compliance with FAA regulations.

Jan. 10: Operators continued to wait for documentation from Boeing and the FAA to begin inspections. Alaska canceled flights scheduled on Max 737-9 aircraft through Sat., Jan. 13. The carrier noted that affected between 110 to 150 flights per day.

Jan. 9: The Boeing instructions from the day before were being revised because of feedback received in response to the prior method, and the Max 737-9 planes remained grounded awaiting inspections. In the meantime, preliminary inspections by Alaska found "loose hardware" and United found "loose bolts." Alaska canceled 109 flights for the day. Further, during a company meeting, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun acknowledged the manufacturer's mistake.

Jan. 8: The FAA approved a method for operators to comply with its emergency airworthiness directive as provided by Boeing in a multi-operator message. While waiting, Alaska and United canceled Max 737-9 flights—as of Mon., Jan. 8 United had canceled about 200 of its related flights with more to come on Tuesday, while preserving about 30 flights for each day by switching to other aircraft types. Alaska had canceled about 140 flights that Monday.

Jan. 6: United Airlines also suspended service on its 79 Boeing Max 737-9 aircraft. The same day, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued an "Emergency Airworthiness Directive" ordering a temporary grounding of the aircraft type operated by U.S. airlines or in U.S. territory, and the National Transportation Safety Board began an investigation into the incident. Additional airlines affected by the grounding included Copa Airlines and Turkish Airlines.

Jan. 5, 2024: A door plug flew off Alaska Airlines' Flight 1282 shortly after takeoff from Portland, Ore., en route to Ontario, Calif. The Boeing Max 737-9 aircraft landed safely back at Portland with 171 passengers and six crew members. As a precautionary measure, Alaska grounded its fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 planes.