FAA clears path for Boeing's grounded planes to resume flying despite reports of 'many' loose bolts

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday a clear path forward for Boeing's grounded 737-9 MAX planes to resume operations.

An FAA press release revealed that the agency has completed its enhanced review and approved plans to proceed with its inspection and maintenance process. Once completed, the grounded planes will be authorized to return to service.

However, as part of the FAA's latest announcement, Boeing was informed that it would not be approved to expand the production of its MAX aircraft.

The company's 737-9 MAX was grounded due to an in-flight incident that occurred earlier this month. On January 5, an Alaska Airlines flight traveling from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, was forced to make an emergency landing after a failed door bolt caused one of the plane's panels to blow out mid-flight. Despite the flight being nearly full, with only seven open seats, none of its 171 passengers or six crew members were seated next to the panel.

Following the incident, Alaska Airlines performed an in-house inspection and reported finding "loose bolts on many" of its Boeing planes. United Airlines also found loose bolts on some of its aircraft.

Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci told NBC News that the loose bolts would be "rectified through the inspection process."

In a statement to the news outlet, Boeing said, "We have let down our airline customers and are deeply sorry for the significant disruption to them, their employees and their passengers."

"We are taking action on a comprehensive plan to bring these airplanes safely back to service and to improve our quality and delivery performance. We will follow the lead of the FAA and support our customers every step of the way," the company added.

On Wednesday, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker remarked, "We grounded the Boeing 737-9 MAX within hours of the incident over Portland and made clear this aircraft would not go back into service until it was safe."

"The exhaustive, enhanced review our team completed after several weeks of information gathering gives me and the FAA confidence to proceed to the inspection and maintenance phase," he continued. "However, let me be clear: This won't be back to business as usual for Boeing. We will not agree to any request from Boeing for an expansion in production or approve additional production lines for the 737 MAX until we are satisfied that the quality control issues uncovered during this process are resolved."

The FAA's press release explained that the enhanced maintenance and inspection process will ensure that the door plugs on every 737-9 MAX "will be in compliance." The process will include "an inspection of specific bolts, guide tracks and fittings," "detailed visual inspections of left and right mid-cabin exit door plugs and dozens of associated components," "retorquing fasteners," and "correcting any damage or abnormal conditions."

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun told Fox Business on Wednesday that the company has "confidence in the safety of our airplanes."

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