The Boeing 737-800 is one of the most used commercial planes in the world. It flies thousands of flights every day. But, its history has had several accidents, making people wonder how safe it really is.
Two Boeing 737 Accidents in two Days
Today, December 30, 2024, another serious incident occurred involving a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800. The plane, operating Flight 7C 101, encountered a landing gear malfunction during its flight. It carried 161 passengers and the crew had to return to Gimpo International Airport. The plane landed safely, and the crew evacuated all passengers without injury.
This followed a deadly crash just the day before, on December 29, 2024. A different Jeju Air 737-800 crashed at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla province. The aircraft attempted to land without its landing gear, leading to 179 fatalities. This crash now holds the title of the deadliest civil aviation disaster in South Korea’s history.
Concerns About the Aging Boeing Fleet
One worry about the 737-800 is its age. Many of these planes have been flying for over 20 years. Older planes can have more mechanical problems. Airlines, especially budget carriers, use the 737-800 to save on fuel and maintenance. But this can lead to safety risks if airlines do not perform repairs properly or on time.
Design Issues and Stability Concerns
The 737-800’s design has also raised concerns. Some pilots say the plane can be unstable during certain flight conditions, especially during takeoff and landing. The plane can pitch up or down unexpectedly, which can make flying unsafe for both passengers and crew.
Boeing’s Efforts to Improve Safety
Despite these problems, the 737-800 remains one of the most common planes used worldwide. The company updated newer models to prevent issues seen in past accidents. But with recent crashes and incidents, people are asking if Boeing needs to do more to make the plane safer.
Government and Investigation Responses
After the recent accidents, the South Korean government launched an audit of all 737-800 planes in the country. Investigators from the U.S., including potential Boeing representatives, joined the investigation to find out what went wrong and how to stop it from happening again.
Conclusion: Is the Boeing 737-800 Safe to Fly?
In conclusion, the 737-800 is still a major part of air travel. However, its recent accidents have raised serious safety concerns. Passengers and experts are watching closely to see how Boeing and airlines handle these problems.
The 737 has had accidents in the past. Peter Robison’s 2021 book Flying Blind mentions that 41 accidents involved 737s in 2018, more than any other plane. But, not all of these accidents were fatal.
The 737 Max, a newer model, has been in the news more often. After two crashes in 2018 and 2019, authorities grounded all 737 Max planes. Those crashes killed 346 people. A software problem caused the crashes, making the plane dive unexpectedly.
What Happened with Boeing 737 After the Crashes?
After the crashes, experts fixed the software issue. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other agencies approved the 737 Max to fly again. Since then, there have been no major problems with the 737 Max.
Boeing also made design changes to the 737 Max to make it safer. However, delays in production caused some problems with making new planes.
Other Boeing 737 Incidents
There have been other incidents with 737 planes. In May 2024, a 737 had to make an emergency landing in Senegal due to a hydraulic issue. The plane caught fire, but no one died. Later that same day, another 737 had to make an emergency landing, this time a United Airlines flight. Thankfully, there were no fatalities in either case.
What Is Boeing Doing?
Boeing knows about its past problems. In January 2024, CEO Dave Calhoun admitted the company made mistakes and promised to fix them. In one incident, a 737 Max 9 lost part of its cabin during a flight. The company grounded the planes to inspect them and promised to be transparent in fixing the issues.
Boeing is working with safety experts to make sure all its planes are safe. The company says it is taking all necessary steps to improve.
How Safe Is the 737 Today?
Today, the 737 Max is still one of the most popular planes worldwide. More than 80 airlines fly over 1,300 of these planes. The planes operate about 5,000 flights daily, carrying around 700,000 passengers. The company claims the 737 Max has a reliability rate of over 99%. This means most flights go smoothly without problems.
Boeing 737: Safe to Fly or Risky Choice?
The Boeing 737 is generally safe to fly, though doubts about its safety remain if accidents continue to occur.
