Airlines remove 737 Max aircraft as Boeing flags possible electrical issue

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Airlines Remove 737 Max Aircraft As Boeing Flags Possible Electrical Issue
A Boeing 737 Max jet, © AP/Press Association Images
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By Michelle Chapman, Associated Press

Boeing has told 16 of its customers to address a possible electrical issue in a group of 737 Max aircraft before using them further.

The Max was grounded worldwide in March 2019 after two crashes killed 346 people.

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Regulators in the US, Europe, Canada, Brazil and other countries cleared the plane to resume flying after Boeing changed an automated flight-control system that played a role in the crashes.

Boeing said Friday that the recommendation was made “to allow for verification that a sufficient ground path exists for a component of the electrical power system”.

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It did not specify how many aircraft could be involved.

Some customers such as Southwest Airlines, which began flying the Max again last month after the grounding order was lifted, is a big user.

Southwest spokesman Brian Parrish said 30 of the airline’s 58 737 Max 8 aircraft are affected by the notification.

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While Southwest has not experienced any known operational challenges related to the issue, it has removed the 30 planes from its schedule for further review.

Southwest is currently operating a limited schedule with the Max, but Mr Parrish said the company will swap any flights previously scheduled with the impacted aircraft.

It has a fleet of more than 700 Boeing 737s.

The company anticipates the issue causing minimal disruption to operations.

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Boeing, based in Chicago, said it is working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration on the matter.

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