DGCA asks airlines to check emergency exits

THE 737 MAX SERIES HAS IN THE PAST BEEN IN FOCUS OVER SAFETY ISSUES WHEN IT LED TO 2 FATAL CRASHES IN 2018 AND 2019

- Neha LM Tripathi

India's aviation regulator on Saturday asked airlines to carry out immediate inspections of emergency exits of any Boeing 737 Max-8 aircraft in their fleet, hours after an identical model of jetliner being flown by an American airline had one of its exit doors blown out mid-air.

Saturday's incident with Alaska Air, which said it was grounding all of its Boeing 737 Max-9 aircraft following the incident with one of its new planes, triggered concerns globally, especially since the 737 Max series has in the past been in focus over safety-related issues when it led to two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 over software defects.

"Pursuant to the Alaska Airlines incident involving Boeing 737 -9 Max aircraft, there have been no inputs /guidance from Boeing so far. None of the Indian air operators have Boeing 737-9 Max as part of their fleet yet," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in statement.