FAA decides against immediate fix for Boeing 737 MAX after bird strike incidents

The FAA plans to issue a continued airworthiness notification to international operators of 737 MAX aircraft based on new information provided by Boeing.

“The new information contains enhanced instructions that direct flight crews more quickly to the appropriate actions when they experience abnormal engine indications.”

Despite this decision, the FAA will continue to assess potential impacts on other engines with similar designs, including possibly examining the LEAP-1A engine used in Airbus A320neo aircraft.

On November 21, the FAA had announced it was addressing an issue with the LEAP-1B and would convene a CARB meeting soon.

“The FAA determined this is not an immediate flight-safety issue.”

CFM International previously noted that an office within the FAA recommended software changes to enhance engine response during bird strikes. These changes would help detect bird strikes or fan blade loss events and automatically adjust relevant systems to prevent smoke from entering cabins.

In both bird strike incidents involving Southwest Airlines in 2023, large birds struck engines leading to smoke filling cabins quickly due to oil being ingested into air conditioning systems. Despite these challenges, CFM International stated that their engines performed as designed.

Additionally, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced an investigation into one incident involving a left-engine bird strike and subsequent smoke event on a Southwest Airlines 737 MAX 8 during a flight from New Orleans to Tampa in December 2023.