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DGCA Asks Jet Airways, SpiceJet To Take Action On Sensor-Related Issues With Boeing 737 Max

Currently there are at least six such aircraft with the two carriers in India.

Windows sit above the engine of a Boeing Co. 737 Max 9 jetliner at the company’s manufacturing facility  (Photographer: David Ryder/Bloomberg)
Windows sit above the engine of a Boeing Co. 737 Max 9 jetliner at the company’s manufacturing facility (Photographer: David Ryder/Bloomberg)

Directorate General of Civil Aviation has asked Jet Airways Ltd. and SpiceJet Ltd. to take corrective action to address possible issues with their Boeing 737 Max planes that could lead to "significant altitude loss", a senior official said on Thursday.

The latest directive follows advisories issued by U.S. watchdog Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing regarding the 737 Max planes after the crash of a Lion Air aircraft in Indonesia last month.

Currently, Jet Airways and SpiceJet fly Boeing 737 Max planes in India. Together, there are at least six such aircraft with the two carriers.

Both the documents address erroneous high ‘angle of attack’ sensor input and corrective action for the same, a senior DGCA official told PTI.

The official said that if the condition is not addressed, it could cause the flight crew to have difficulty in controlling the airplane. The condition can even lead to significant altitude loss, and possible impact with terrain, the official noted.

Based on initial investigation of Lion Air aircraft accident, the FAA issued an emergency Airworthiness Directive on Nov. 7. Boeing released a bulletin about the issue on Nov. 6.

The DGCA has ensured that all Indian operators are aware of the directive and have taken appropriate corrective action, the official added.

Comments from Jet Airways and SpiceJet were awaited.

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