Boeing has recommended that airlines temporarily take the 737 Max out of service because of an issue with the plane’s electrical systems. It’s the latest in a now very long line of problems that have cropped up with this particular plane since two of them crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people.
US airlines temporarily grounded more than 65 737 Max planes after Boeing notified 16 carriers of a manufacturing issue that could affect the model’s backup power control unit.
The issue is unrelated to the Maneuvering Characteristic Augmentation System (MCAS) software that grounded the 737 Max for nearly two years after it was linked to two fatal crashes that killed 346 people. According to Reuters, the problem affects about 90 planes. Southwest Airlines took 30 of its 737 Max jets off its flight schedule, the most of any US carrier. Boeing reportedly told the airlines refitting the affected aircraft could take between a few hours and a couple of days. “Boeing has recommended to 16 customers that they address a potential electrical issue in a specific group of 737 Max airplanes prior to further operations,” the company said in a statement. “The recommendation is being made to allow for verification that a sufficient ground path exists for a component of the electrical power system.” According to Reuters. This all comes as air travel is rebounding in a big way in the US, thanks to a dramatic increase in vaccinations against the coronavirus.
That’s a different issue from the one that led to the two fatal crashes, which involved Boeing installing a piece of safety software that it didn’t tell pilots or the government about as part of a rush to bring the plane to market. But it’s not the only one to come to light since those crashes. Boeing previously found debris in the fuel tanks of 737 Max aircraft, for example.
The FAA which was accused in December by a Senate investigation of working with Boeing to manipulate tests during the recertification process of the 737 Max said in a statement on Friday that it “will ensure the issue is addressed.”
