UAE airline has conducted ‘comprehensive’ checks on aircraft as US carrier grounds fleet of planes

UAE airline has conducted ‘comprehensive’ checks on aircraft as US carrier grounds fleet of planes

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Published: Sat 6 Jan 2024, 6:08 PM Last updated: Sat 6 Jan 2024, 6:10 PM

The UAE carrier flydubai on Saturday said it has completed C-checks on Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes in the past two years and is open to carrying out any further inspections if required.

This comes as Alaska Airlines on Saturday grounded its fleet of 65 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft as a precautionary measure after a cabin panel blowout forced one of its flights to make an emergency landing. The US-based carrier said each aircraft will return to service only after completion of full maintenance and safety inspections which will take place in the next few days.

In aviation, C-checks are part of the “heavy maintenance” of the aircraft which usually happen between 18 months to 2 years. This inspection is usually carried out at a special facility, and can carry on for up to 2 weeks.

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The Dubai-headquartered carrier said that it is operating 737 MAX 9 planes that have a “different configuration”.

“We are aware of the latest reports. The three Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft in our fleet, which