While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducts its investigation into the Boeing 737 Max-9, a 747-8 cargo plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Miami on January 18th. Experiencing an engine malfunction mid-flight, the pilot navigated to the Miami International Airport and landed at 11:03 pm. Operated by Atlas Air, the plane had barely gotten into the air when it had to turn around.
In a statement to the Daily Caller, Atlas Air said, “We can confirm that Flight 5Y095, a 747-8 cargo aircraft, has landed safely after experiencing an engine malfunction soon after departure from Miami International Airport (MIA). The crew followed all standard procedures and safely returned to MIA. At Atlas, safety is always our top priority, and we will be conducting a thorough inspection.”
With the 737 line from Boeing under increased scrutiny as the line ages, many pilots and passengers are doing everything they can to avoid using the planes, and now with this recent failure with a 747, it could end up being a Boeing ban all around. Given the problems that the manufacturer has been having, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the FAA order all Boeings grounded soon.
For air travel and cargo, this kind of decision would be devastating as Boeing is the main choice over their closest competitor, Airbus. While Airbus is European-based, they have a level of innovation and safety standards that vastly outshine those of Boeing historically. As Boeing recently delayed delivery of 737 Max jets to China Southern Airlines due to the investigations, their attention to improving quality is crucial.
