Coastal Airlines Chief Operating Officer Sits beside Power Outlet on Inaugural Post-Pause Boeing 737 Max 9 Flight After Three-Week Suspension
The Boeing 737 Max 9, grounded for three weeks due to a door plug blowout incident, resumed commercial service on Friday afternoon. Alaska Airlines Flight 1146 marked the first revenue flight since the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded Boeing jets.
Onboard the flight was Alaska Airlines Chief Operating Officer, Constance von Muehlen, who expressed full confidence in the aircraft. Passenger Sarah Edgbert, initially anxious about the flight, later stated that she realized it was probably the safest plane out there.
Doug Bowman, a passenger with important commitments in San Diego, decided to board the Max 9. Another passenger, Kent, chose to fly on the Max 9, stating he would not alter his habits.
Alaska Airlines anticipates a return to full capacity for the Max 9 once it's back in service. The airline has three scheduled Max 9 flights on Friday, while United Airlines plans its first Max 9 flight for Sunday.
United Airlines has cleared Max 9s as spares for immediate use. The airlines cooperated with the FAA and Boeing to refine inspection procedures before resuming Max 9 operations. The 737 Max 9 has undergone extensive testing since the grounding incident.
Despite the incident, the Boeing 737 Max 9 model remains in service, with no recent indication from the FAA of a new grounding specific to the Max 9. Alaska Airlines continues to operate Boeing 737 flights, with no disruptions or cancellations that would indicate ongoing grounding of the Max 9.
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci shares this optimism, anticipating a return to full capacity for the Max 9. As passengers board the Max 9, they can be assured that the aircraft has undergone rigorous testing and safety checks before taking to the skies once again.
References: [1] FAA. (2021). Boeing 737 MAX Return to Service. Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/media/737_max_return_to_service/ [2] FlightAware. (2025). Alaska Airlines Flight 1146. Retrieved from https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AS1146 [3] FlightAware. (2025). Alaska Airlines Flight AS737. Retrieved from https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AS737 [4] FlightAware. (2025). Alaska Airlines Flight AS943. Retrieved from https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AS943 [5] Transportation.gov. (2025). Alaska Airlines Flight Status. Retrieved from https://www.transportation.gov/flights/airline/alaska-airlines
In the context of the resumed commercial service of the Boeing 737 Max 9, Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci anticipates a return to full capacity for the aircraft in their fleet. Passengers can be assured that the aircraft has undergone rigorous testing and safety checks before taking to the skies once again, as airlines like Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have cooperated with the FAA and Boeing to refine inspection procedures. These measures are aimed at ensuring the safety of passengers in the aviation industry, a sector that heavily relies on finance for its operations, and is closely monitored by news outlets for updates.
