Canadian airlines say they are not flying the version of the Alaska Airlines plane that was grounded Friday after suffering a mid-flight blowout.
The Transport Minister’s office confirmed to Global News on Saturday that there was no connection with the Canadian operators.
“The (U.S. Federal Aviation Administration) and Boeing are investigating. We will await the results of this investigation and will not hesitate to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of Canadians,” the ministry said in an email.
An Alaska Airlines Boeing 739-9 Max made an emergency landing with 174 passengers on board Friday evening after a window and part of its fuselage exploded shortly after takeoff, nearly three miles (5 kilometers) above. above Oregon. The exploded part of the plane left a gaping hole that sucked in a child’s clothes.
No one was seriously injured when the depressurized plane returned safely to Portland International Airport, but the airline grounded the plane for inspection. The National Transportation Safety Board said Saturday it would also investigate.
Air Canada, WestJet and Lynx Air told Global News they only have the Boeing 737-8 Max version of the plane, which does not share the same door design.
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“We have 40 of these aircraft and they have operated very reliably with an excellent safety record. The mid-cabin exit door configuration only applies to the 737 MAX 9 and is not present on our 737 MAX 8,” Air Canada told Global News in an email Saturday.
Flair and Porter list their fleets online and do not include the Boeing 737-9 Max jet.
The FAA said in a statement on Saturday that it was ordering the temporary grounding of certain Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft operated by American airlines, or located on American territory.
The FAA also announced that it is issuing an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) that would require operators to inspect aircraft that fail to meet specified inspection cycles.
The inspections will involve approximately 171 aircraft worldwide and will last approximately four to eight hours per aircraft.
“Safety will continue to guide our decision-making as we participate in the NTSB investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in an email.
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