Four Months After Flight Resumption Approval... Boeing 737 Max Makes Emergency Landing Due to Another 'Mechanical Defect'

No Human Casualties... FAA Investigation Planned

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Authorities are set to conduct inspections after another mechanical issue was suspected on a Boeing 737 Max passenger plane, which had been grounded for 20 months following a crash accident.

According to major foreign media on the 5th (local time), the captain of American Airlines flight 2555, a Boeing 737 Max departing from Miami to New Jersey, judged that there was a mechanical problem and made an emergency landing after shutting down one engine. The captain reported the emergency after arriving at Newark Airport in New Jersey under its own power. All 95 passengers and 6 crew members on board were confirmed to be safe.

The airline stated that the issue might be related to engine hydraulics or the volume meter, and denied that it was related to the automatic stall prevention system (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, MCAS), which was linked to previous crash accidents. Boeing is also aware of the situation, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to launch an investigation.

Previously, the FAA had suspended all operations of the Boeing 737 Max after a series of crashes involving the model. In October 2018, a Boeing 737 Max operated by Indonesia's Lion Air crashed, and in March 2019, another Boeing 737 Max operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed, resulting in 346 casualties. In November last year, the FAA approved the resumption of operations, stating, "We are confident that the model is safe, but like other aircraft, mechanical issues can occasionally occur onboard."

On the 20th of last month, a Boeing 777 operated by United Airlines experienced a malfunction during flight over the United States, dropping debris to the ground. Recently, Boeing 777 passenger planes have repeatedly caused problems.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.