Boeing 737 MAX airplanes parked on the tarmac at the Boeing Factory in Renton, Washington

Airlines Alert Pilots to Smoke Risk in Boeing 737 Max After Bird Strikes

Pilots at major airlines have been cautioned that bird strikes on Boeing 737 Max engines could result in smoke infiltrating the passenger cabin. This warning was issued by both Southwest Airlines and American Airlines after receiving alerts from Boeing.

According to documents obtained by CNN, Boeing informed the airlines in February about potential issues stemming from bird strikes on CFM LEAP-1B engines during takeoff and initial climb. The alert highlighted that such strikes could cause oil to burn, leading to smoke and fumes entering the cabin through the air conditioning system.

Southwest Airlines and American Airlines promptly alerted their pilots to this risk. The alerts specified that Boeing had received two reports of engine failures after large bird strikes, resulting in immediate smoke presence in the cabin.

This information, initially reported by The Seattle Times, raises concerns about another potential issue for the 737 Max, which has faced numerous manufacturing and design challenges in recent years.

Engine manufacturer CFM International stated that their engines met bird ingestion certification requirements and performed as expected during these events. They noted that the birds involved were larger than those used in certification testing, but the engines still operated as designed.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it is collaborating with Boeing on the investigation and will determine if further actions are necessary based on the findings.

In February, Boeing issued a service bulletin addressing the bird strike incidents and has been working with CFM to better understand the issue. The FAA and airline operators are being kept informed of any new developments.

On Tuesday, Boeing’s outgoing CEO Dave Calhoun addressed lawmakers, taking responsibility for recent failures, including a door plug blowout on a 737 Max 9 and two fatal crashes involving 737 Max 8s that resulted in the deaths of 346 people.

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