Federal regulators have given approval for airlines to resume flying their Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners, which have been grounded since a side panel blew out of a plane in midflight earlier this month. The decision comes after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reviewed the incident on an Alaska Airlines Boeing jet and expressed confidence that the necessary safety measures have been taken. Mike Whitaker, the head of the FAA, stated that production limits will be imposed on the Max planes until quality-control concerns are addressed. Boeing, in response, has pledged to work closely with the FAA and airlines to ensure the safe return of the grounded planes.

The incident that led to the grounding of the Max 9 occurred on January 5, when a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines plane flying over Oregon. The blowout caused a hole in the side of the aircraft, but the pilots were able to safely return to Portland. The FAA subsequently grounded most Max 9s, resulting in flight cancellations and financial losses for Alaska and United Airlines, the only U.S. carriers with Max 9s in their fleets. The CEOs of both airlines expressed their frustration with Boeing over the situation.

To allow the Max 9s to resume service, the FAA has mandated that airlines conduct detailed visual inspections of door plugs and other components, make necessary adjustments, and repair any damage before the planes can fly again. The inspection process was developed based on data from inspections of 40 grounded planes. United Airlines, which has the largest number of Max 9s among U.S. carriers, has already completed preliminary preparations and inspections and expects to put its planes back into service starting Sunday.

The FAA's decision coincides with the announcement that Congress will also be scrutinizing Boeing. Senator Maria Cantwell, chair of the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, met with Boeing CEO David Calhoun to discuss the recent safety lapses. Cantwell emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety over profits and stated that the committee will hold hearings to investigate the root causes of these incidents.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the Alaska Airlines incident, particularly focusing on whether any bolts securing the door plug were missing prior to takeoff. An NTSB investigator will visit Boeing's assembly factory in Renton, Washington, to gather more information. Meanwhile, the FAA is conducting its own investigation to determine if proper safety procedures were followed during the manufacturing process.

Despite the approval for some Max 9s to return to service, the FAA has made it clear that it will not allow Boeing to expand production or approve additional production lines until all quality control issues are resolved. The FAA's decision to allow the planes to fly again is based on the completion of an enhanced inspection and maintenance process, which ensures that the door plugs on the Max 9s comply with the original design and are safe to operate. Boeing's CEO, Dave Calhoun, has expressed his commitment to transparency and answering questions regarding the recent incidents.