June 19th 2024.
Recently, there have been concerns raised by major airlines regarding potential safety issues with the Boeing 737 Max aircraft. In particular, there have been warnings about the possibility of smoke filling the passenger cabin if a bird were to hit one of the engines during flight. CNN has obtained documents that reveal how Boeing alerted Southwest Airlines and American Airlines about this issue back in February, prompting both airlines to send out alerts to their pilots.
According to the alerts, Boeing had received reports of engine failures caused by bird strikes during takeoff and initial climb. American Airlines' alert specifically mentioned the potential for oil to burn and smoke and fumes to enter the cabin through the air conditioning system. These incidents had not been widely publicized until The Seattle Times brought them to light, but they are significant as they could indicate further problems with the 737 Max, which has already faced criticism for manufacturing and design flaws.
CFM International, the engine maker for the 737 Max, has stated that their engine meets bird ingestion certification requirements and has performed as expected in these cases. They also emphasized that the birds involved in these incidents were much larger than those used for certification testing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that they will be working closely with Boeing to investigate these incidents and determine if any further actions are necessary.
Boeing has also released a statement acknowledging that they issued a service bulletin in February after two bird strike incidents. They have been working with CFM to gather more information on the matter and have been keeping the FAA and their operators informed of any developments. In a recent hearing with lawmakers, outgoing CEO Dave Calhoun took responsibility for the failures of the company, including the blowout of a door plug on a 737 Max 9 and the tragic crashes of two 737 Max 8s that claimed the lives of 346 people.
This latest concern over potential engine malfunctions caused by bird strikes adds to the already troubled history of the 737 Max. The FAA and Boeing are working together to address these issues and ensure the safety of passengers and crew. As always, the safety of air travel remains a top priority for all involved.
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