A SpiceJet spokesperson said on Monday, January 8, that the airline has conducted a comprehensive examination of the Boeing 737 MAX fleet according to the directives of the DGCA. The spokesperson said that no adverse findings were identified during this inspection.
"Our flight operations remained unaffected and continued to operate as usual. It is important to note that SpiceJet does not operate the B737-9 variant of the MAX," the spokesperson said.
Akasa Air also confirmed that the inspection of its entire fleet of in-service Boeing 737 Max aircraft was completed, and there were no adverse findings. "We can also confirm that there was no disruption to our operations during this time," Akasa Air said.
Akasa Air, however, does not have any Boeing 737 Max-9 aircraft in its fleet, the aircraft on which the incident occurred.
An Alaska Air's B737 MAX 9 lost a mid-aft door shortly after takeoff during Flight AS1282 from Portland to Ontario, CA. The plane executed an emergency landing, returning to Portland IntBernational Airport. All 171 passengers and 6 crew members on board remained unharmed.
In response, India's aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) instructed all Indian carriers to do a one-time inspection of the emergency exits on all Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft currently in operation within the country. In an official statement, the DGCA emphasised that the directive is a precautionary measure and not a response to any identified issues with the Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft currently in service by Indian air operators. The one-time inspection of emergency exits is intended to verify the integrity and functionality of these crucial safety components.
The DGCA has urged all Indian air operators to promptly conduct the inspections on their Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft and report any findings or concerns to the regulatory authority.
As of now, no Indian airline operates the Boeing 737-9 Max variant, and there have been no specific inputs or guidance from Boeing regarding the incident.
However, Akasa, Air India Express and SpiceJet have Boeing Max 8 in their fleet and Air India has also placed an order for 190 Max aircraft. Spicejet has over 10 Max-8 but most of them are grounded. Air India Express has eight Max-8 planes, of which three are already parked.
