The Federal Aviation Administration gave approval this week for the Boeing 737 Max 9 to begin flying again, clearing the way for the planes to return to the skies as early as Friday.
The agency’s decision on Wednesday came a little less than three weeks after part of the fuselage blew out of an Alaska Airlines plane at 16,000 feet shortly after departing from Portland International Airport. While the plane returned safely back and no one was seriously hurt, the incident rattled fliers and prompted the FAA to order an immediate grounding and inspection of 171 Boeing aircraft operated by U.S. airlines or in U.S. territory.
In its decision this week, the FAA said airlines can start bringing the 737 Max 9 back into service, but only after completing a “thorough inspection and maintenance process” outlined by the regulators.
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