Problems Boeing has had with its 737 MAX aircraft
Boeing's 737 MAX range has come back into the spotlight after an incident on an Alaska Airlines passenger plane. It's not the first time the 737 MAX has been scrutinised, after two deadly crashes.
Wednesday 10 January 2024 14:58, UK
Certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes are grounded after a window and chunk of fuselage blew out of an Alaska Airlines passenger plane in mid-air.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said these planes would not fly until "enhanced inspections" of the jets were completed.
But it's not the first time the Boeing 737 MAX range has been at the centre of huge controversy, dating back to deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019.
Here's a timeline of recent issues concerning the 737 MAX, which was introduced to give an "improved environmental performance" and "increased passenger comfort" to the market.
A relatively new Boeing 737 MAX 8 being operated by low-cost airline Lion Air crashes off Indonesia, killing all 189 people on board.
The aircraft plunged into the Java Sea just 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta.
The Indonesian airline was the subject of much public scrutiny at the time, but not long after, there was another crash involving a Boeing 737 MAX 8.
All 157 passengers on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 are killed in a crash in Ethiopia.
China's aviation regulator becomes the first in the world to ground the aircraft, followed by others, including the US FAA.
Boeing ousts Kevin McAllister, the top executive of its commercial airplanes division.
Former chief executive, Dennis Muilenburg, leaves Boeing in the wake of the crashes.
Boeing is forced to suspend production of the 737 MAX, its biggest assembly-line halt in more than 20 years.
An 18-month inquiry into the two Boeing 737 MAX crashes that left 346 people dead concludes, identifying a "horrific culmination" of failures at the company and among regulators.
The damning report reads: "The crashes were not the result of a singular failure, technical mistake, or mismanaged event.
"They were the horrific culmination of a series of faulty technical assumptions by Boeing's engineers, a lack of transparency on the part of Boeing's management, and grossly insufficient oversight by the FAA."
The central point focused on the flight control software, known as MCAS.
The inquiry team highlighted "faulty design and performance assumptions" in the system.
Regulators in the US clear Boeing 737 MAX to fly again, 20 months after the fleet was grounded globally.
Boeing 737 MAX aircraft officially resume passenger flights in the US for the first time in 20 months.
American Airlines flight 718, carrying around 100 passengers, lands at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Tuesday 29 December after departing from Miami earlier in the day.
The EU's aviation regulator follows in America's steps and allows Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to fly again.
In the same month, Boeing agrees to pay out more than $2.5bn to resolve a US investigation into the deadly 737 MAX disasters.
In a statement, America's government said the settlement included a criminal penalty of $243.6m and compensation to the firm's customers of $1.77bn.
Boeing pauses deliveries of some 737 MAX planes to deal with a new supplier quality problem involving noncompliant fittings.
Boeing identifies a new 737 MAX supplier quality problem involving improperly drilled holes on the aft pressure bulkhead.
A window and chunk of fuselage blew out of Alaska Airlines flight 1282 from Portland to California in mid-air shortly after takeoff on 5 January.
It left a gaping hole in the side of the Boeing 737 MAX 9.
While only minor injuries were reported, the situation could have been "very dangerous," according to experts.
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It led to the FAA grounding certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft for safety checks.
Days later, United Airlines says it has found loose bolts on plug doors on multiple Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft during inspections.
A statement from Boeing said: "As operators conduct the required inspections, we are staying in close contact with them and will help address any and all findings.
"We are committed to ensuring every Boeing airplane meets design specifications and the highest safety and quality standards. We regret the impact this has had on our customers and their passengers."
Spirit AeroSystems, a subcontractor which installed the door plug that blew out of the Alaska Airlines plane, said in a statement that "quality and product integrity" are a priority.
It said: "Spirit is a committed partner with Boeing on the 737 programme, and we continue to work together with them on this matter."