By Alison Sider and Andrew Tangel
U.S. air-safety regulators said they will permit grounded Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets to resume flying after airlines complete inspections, following a near-catastrophe on an Alaska Airlines flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration said late Wednesday that airlines can begin thoroughly inspecting their MAX 9 jets, paving the way for them to resume carrying passengers once those checks have been completed.
The regulator ordered airlines to stop flying most 737 MAX 9 jets on Jan. 6, a day after a door plug ripped away from an Alaska Airlines flight shortly after it took off, leaving a gaping hole the size of an emergency exit in the side of the plane.
The grounding has disrupted operations for Alaska and United Airlines, two of the largest operators of the MAX 9, and top executives at both airlines voiced frustration with Boeing this week. United said the MAX 9 accounts for about 8% of its capacity, and said the grounding would likely contribute to a wider than anticipated first-quarter loss.