'Washer' Found Missing In Indian Carrier's Boeing 737 MAX During Inspection: DGCA

In India, three airlines – Akasa Air, SpiceJet, and Air India Express – have a total of 40 Boeing 737 Max planes in their fleets.

Akasa Air has 22 Max aircraft, while SpiceJet and Air India Express have nine each

Source : Getty

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday reported that a 'washer' was found to be missing in a Boeing 737MAX aircraft operated by an Indian carrier during its inspection.

Boeing had recommended a one-time inspection of all Boeing 737 Max planes for possible loose hardware before January 10. The aircraft maker's move had come based on information from an operator of a missing nut and washer in the Aft Rudder Quadrant on the Boeing 737 Max plane, reported PTI.

Although the regulator did not specify which Indian carrier’s Max plane was found without the washer, in India, three airlines – Akasa Air, SpiceJet, and Air India Express – have a total of 40 Boeing 737 Max planes in their fleets.

 

Among them, Akasa Air has 22 Max aircraft, while SpiceJet and Air India Express have nine each, according to PTI.

A senior DGCA official informed that inspections on 39 aircraft have been completed with no findings except on one aircraft where a missing washer was found. 

"Rectification action as per recommendations of Boeing has been taken prior to the release of this aircraft. Inspection on the remaining one aircraft will be completed prior to release for service," the official said, reported PTI.

 This inspection was recommended before the Alaska Airlines incident and is not related to it.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft was involved in an incident on January 5, 2024, of an in-flight departure of a mid-cabin door plug, which resulted in rapid decompression of the aero plane.