An additional equipment failure on a Boeing aircraft continues to raise worries about travel safety. On April 7, an engine cover detached from a Boeing 737-800 and struck a wing flap during take-off procedures from Houston International Airport.  

The incident comes at the heels of two major aviation incidents that have brought attention to safety concerns in the skies. On Jan. 2, Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, witnessed a collision between an Airbus A350 belonging to Japan Airlines and a De Havilland Canada Dash 8 operated by the Japan Coast Guard on the runway.  

Meanwhile, in the United States, a technical incident involving a faulty side door on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 added to the growing apprehensions surrounding air travel. 

The Airbus A350, introduced in 2015 by Qatar Airways, faced its first crash in history in this Jan. 2 incident. The collision occurred as the airport experienced heightened activity due to the post-Christmas rush, with passengers returning from their holiday vacations. The Airbus A350 collided with the Dash 8 at 5:47pm local time, resulting in both aircraft catching fire. Miraculously, all 367 passengers and 12 aircraft crew on board the A350 were safely evacuated. However, tragedy struck the Coast Guard plane, claiming the lives of 5 crew members, with only one crew member surviving. The incident sheds light on the challenges posed by increased air traffic during peak travel seasons. 

At least one Hill student was present at Tokyo Airport during the incident.  

“I was at the airport during the explosion,” Erin Lee ’26 said. Most people at the airport, including me, did not realize what happened. Yet, the four-hour delay caused anger amongst them.” 

Simultaneously, in the United States, an alarming incident involving a Boeing 737 Max 9 from Alaska Airlines occurred on Jan. 5. Mid-flight, an unused door broke away, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ground 171 of these planes for inspection. Notably, the Boeing 737 MAX 9 model has a troubled history of technical flaws, as two planes of the same model crashed in previous years, resulting in the tragic loss of 1000 lives. 

As of January 28, 2024, both Alaska and United Airlines have resumed flying the Boeing 737 Max 9 after completing necessary inspections. However, these incidents highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and evaluation of aviation safety standards. The industry 

and regulatory bodies must remain vigilant in addressing technical concerns and human factors to ensure the well-being of passengers and crew. 

The recent aviation incidents serve as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the aviation industry in maintaining safety amidst increasing air traffic and technological complexities. As investigations unfold, the need for proactive measures and improvements becomes evident, emphasizing the critical role of stakeholders in prioritizing passenger safety above all else.