FAA Issues Directive on Boeing 737 MAX for Safety Concerns

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a directive for Boeing 737 MAX aircrafts to address a circuit breaker fault that could lead to dangerously high temperatures. This directive affects 2,119 aircrafts globally. Boeing is working on an engineering solution to prevent this electrical fault.

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced a new airworthiness directive concerning Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 8200 models, tackling a circuit breaker fault capable of causing high cabin and flight deck temperatures. The initiative requires airlines to amend their flight manuals within 30 days to guide crews in case of air conditioning malfunctions.

Boeing, backing the directive, stated it is developing an engineering fix to prevent the electrical issue. This follows two reported incidents where in-flight temperatures rose sharply. The aviation manufacturer identified the issue as a ground wire fault within the air conditioning system.

The malfunction poses risks of higher temperatures which might incapacitate crew and passengers, threatening the ability for safe flight operations. Boeing aims to resolve this before the certification of the 737 MAX 7 and 10, and does not foresee a delay in timelines. Southwest Airlines, one of the incident-reporting carriers, remains engaged with FAA and Boeing.

(With inputs from agencies.)