US approves inspection program to return Boeing 737 MAX to service

US regulators approved a detailed inspection framework that would allow the return to service of Boeing 737 MAX planes grounded after an emergency landing earlier this month, officials said Wednesday.

Shortly after the Federal Aviation Administration announced inspection protocols on the Boeing 737 MAX 9, United Airlines said it expects grounded aircraft to return to service starting Sunday.

“We will only return each MAX 9 aircraft to service once this thorough inspection process is complete,” said a statement from Toby Enqvist, United’s chief operations officer.

“We are preparing aircraft to return to scheduled service beginning on Sunday.”

The FAA announcement is a major step after the agency grounded 171 MAX 9 planes after the January 5 incident on an Alaska Airlines plane.

The grounded 737 MAX jets have the same configuration as the Alaska Airlines jet that suffered a blowout of a panel on the fuselage, exposing passengers to open air and necessitating an emergency landing.

No one was injured in the incident, but safety inspectors have said it could have been catastrophic.

Under the FAA’s “enhanced maintenance” process, airlines will undertake an inspection of specific bolts and fittings, detailed visual inspections of plugs and components and address “any damage or abnormal conditions,” the FAA said.

The inspection will ensure parts are “in compliance with the original design which is safe to operate,” the FAA said. “This aircraft will not operate until the process is complete and compliance with the original design is confirmed.”