NEW DELHI - In response to a recent incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing (NYSE:BA) 737-9 Max, which necessitated an emergency landing due to damage to its fuselage, Indian aviation authorities have mandated immediate safety checks on the Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft's emergency exits. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has instructed Indian carriers, including SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air India Express, to conduct these inspections promptly by noon today.
This directive is a response to a safety alert issued by Boeing regarding its MAX series aircraft. The Indian airlines, operating a total of 41 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, are actively coordinating with Boeing to ensure that their fleets meet all safety standards. While no Indian carrier operates the affected model, the airlines have acknowledged differences between their respective B737-8s and the Alaska Airlines plane but remain in communication with Boeing and regulators for updates.
Air India Express has nine B737-8s in its fleet and has confirmed its adherence to DGCA's directive. Akasa Air, while not having any B737 Max-9s, will adhere to any new guidelines concerning its fleet of twenty B737 MAX planes. SpiceJet also confirmed adherence to DGCA's directive for its twelve B737 MAX aircraft despite not having any B737-9 Max models in their fleet.
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