<p>New Delhi: Aviation watchdog DGCA on Saturday directed domestic airlines to immediately carry out inspection of emergency exits of all Boeing 737-8 Max planes in their fleets as an "abundant precautionary measure" in the wake of the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/alaska-airlines-grounds-all-boeing-737-9-aircraft-after-midair-window-blowout-on-flight-from-portland-2838078">Alaska Airlines incident</a>.</p><p>A senior official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that "one-time emergency exit checks" should mandatorily be carried out by all operators by noon on January 7.</p><p>The inspections will be done during the night halt of the aircraft concerned, the official said and as a result, there will be no impact on flight schedules.</p><p>Currently, there are more than 40 Boeing 737-8 Max planes that are operated by three domestic carriers -- Akasa Air, SpiceJet and Air India Express.</p><p>The directive comes after an Alaska Airlines plane's outer section, including a window, fell off mid-air and the aircraft involved was Boeing 737-9 Max.</p><p>Indian carriers do not have Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft in their fleets now.</p><p>The DGCA official said the latest directive is an abundant precautionary measure.</p><p>"DGCA has directed all the Indian air operators to carry out a one-time inspection of the emergency exits immediately on all Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft currently operating as part of their fleet," the official said.</p><p>The official also said that pursuant to the Alaska Airlines incident involving Boeing 737 -9 Max aircraft, there have been no inputs or guidance from Boeing so far. When asked whether flight schedules could be impacted by the inspection, the official replied in the negative.</p><p>"No, these one-time checks will be done during the night halt of aircraft," the official said.</p><p>In their fleets, Akasa Air has 22 Max planes, SpiceJet has more than 10 such planes and Air India Express has 9 such aircraft.</p><p>"We do not have any 737-9 Max in our fleet. SpiceJet will adhere to the DGCA directive on the Max-8," a SpiceJet spokesperson said.</p><p>There were no immediate comments from Akasa Air and Air India Express on the DGCA directive.</p>
<p>New Delhi: Aviation watchdog DGCA on Saturday directed domestic airlines to immediately carry out inspection of emergency exits of all Boeing 737-8 Max planes in their fleets as an "abundant precautionary measure" in the wake of the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/alaska-airlines-grounds-all-boeing-737-9-aircraft-after-midair-window-blowout-on-flight-from-portland-2838078">Alaska Airlines incident</a>.</p><p>A senior official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that "one-time emergency exit checks" should mandatorily be carried out by all operators by noon on January 7.</p><p>The inspections will be done during the night halt of the aircraft concerned, the official said and as a result, there will be no impact on flight schedules.</p><p>Currently, there are more than 40 Boeing 737-8 Max planes that are operated by three domestic carriers -- Akasa Air, SpiceJet and Air India Express.</p><p>The directive comes after an Alaska Airlines plane's outer section, including a window, fell off mid-air and the aircraft involved was Boeing 737-9 Max.</p><p>Indian carriers do not have Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft in their fleets now.</p><p>The DGCA official said the latest directive is an abundant precautionary measure.</p><p>"DGCA has directed all the Indian air operators to carry out a one-time inspection of the emergency exits immediately on all Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft currently operating as part of their fleet," the official said.</p><p>The official also said that pursuant to the Alaska Airlines incident involving Boeing 737 -9 Max aircraft, there have been no inputs or guidance from Boeing so far. When asked whether flight schedules could be impacted by the inspection, the official replied in the negative.</p><p>"No, these one-time checks will be done during the night halt of aircraft," the official said.</p><p>In their fleets, Akasa Air has 22 Max planes, SpiceJet has more than 10 such planes and Air India Express has 9 such aircraft.</p><p>"We do not have any 737-9 Max in our fleet. SpiceJet will adhere to the DGCA directive on the Max-8," a SpiceJet spokesperson said.</p><p>There were no immediate comments from Akasa Air and Air India Express on the DGCA directive.</p>