Sapporo, Japan – A domestic All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight was forced to return to its departure airport on Saturday after a crack was discovered in the cockpit window mid-air. The incident, involving a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, comes just one week after another Boeing plane, an Alaska Airlines 737-9, experienced a catastrophic mid-air fuselage blowout.
Key Points:
- ANA flight returns to Sapporo after cockpit window crack.
- No injuries reported.
- Incident comes one week after Alaska Airlines 737-9 blowout.
- FAA grounds all Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft.
- FAA launches safety investigation into Alaska Airlines incident.
- Boeing cooperates with FAA investigation.
- Importance of prioritizing safety in aviation industry emphasized.
Flight 1182, bound for Toyama Airport, diverted back to Sapporo-New Chitose Airport after the crack was identified on the outermost of the four-layer cockpit window system. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among the 59 passengers and six crew members onboard.
“The crack did not affect the flight’s control or pressurization,” assured an ANA spokesperson.
This incident marks the second involving a Boeing aircraft in a week, raising concerns about the safety of the manufacturer’s planes. The Alaska Airlines incident, which involved a gaping hole in the fuselage, forced the airline to ground its entire fleet of 737-9 aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also taken action, grounding all Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft until Boeing provides more data following the Alaska Airlines incident. Additionally, the FAA has launched a safety investigation into the incident, the first major one since the fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 that led to a lengthy grounding of the aircraft.
“Our only concern is the safety of American travellers, and the Boeing 737-9 MAX will not return to the skies until we are entirely satisfied it is safe,” stated FAA administrator Mike Whitaker.
Boeing has expressed its cooperation with the FAA’s investigation and stated their commitment to improving quality and safety across their production system.
The incident underscores the importance of prioritizing safety in the aviation industry and the need for thorough investigations and improvements following any safety concerns. While the ANA flight’s safe return is a positive outcome, it serves as a reminder that vigilance and proactive measures are crucial to ensuring the safety of passengers and crew in the skies.
SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES
