FAA will keep Boeing 737 MAX 9 grounded until ‘extensive inspection and maintenance is conducted’

The FAA announced Friday that it plans to keep the Boeing 737 MAX 9 grounded until “extensive inspection and maintenance is conducted” and the data is reviewed. 

The decision comes nearly a week after the agency grounded the aircraft following a Jan. 5 incident in which a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines plane in midair.

“We are working to make sure nothing like this happens again,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said Friday. “Our only concern is the safety of American travelers and the Boeing 737-9 MAX will not return to the skies until we are entirely satisfied it is safe.”

Boeing told Fox News Digital it had no comment. 

FAA PROBING WHETHER BOEING FAILED TO ENSURE PLANES WERE SAFE TO OPERATE

The plane’s cabin depressurized at around 16,000 feet when the door plug blew out, causing a teen’s shirt to be ripped off, but no serious injuries were reported. 

ALASKA AIRLINES PASSENGERS SUE BOEING FOR ‘WAKING NIGHTMARE’

NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy told Fox News’ Neil Cavuto on Monday the incident could have been catastrophic if it had happened at a higher altitude. 

An investigation involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on a Boeing 737-9 MAX in Portland, Oregon. (NTSB  / Fox News)

“If we think about a cruise altitude of about 30,000 or 35,000 feet, what is happening at that time?” Homedy said. “Flight attendants are providing service to the passengers. Passengers are up and moving. People are out of their seat belts. People are in lavatories. That would have been a much different scenario.” 

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Alaska and United Airlines have both since admitted to finding loose bolts on planes during inspections following the incident.