The Federal Aviation Administration has temporarily grounded around 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft after a window on an Alaska Airlines flight blew out in midair.
The FAA said some of the planes needed immediate inspections before they could be cleared to fly again.
In a statement published to X on Saturday evening the regulatory body said: “The FAA will order the temporary grounding of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft operated by US airlines or in US territory.
“The Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) that will be issued shortly will require operators to inspect aircraft before further flight that do not meet the inspection cycles specified in the EAD. The required inspections will take around four to eight hours per aircraft.
READ MORE: Horror moment pilot desperately calls for help as aircraft window blows out at 16,000 feet
“The EAD will affect approximately 171 airplanes worldwide.”
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker added: “The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes before they can return to flight.
“Safety will continue to drive our decision-making as we assist the @NTSB’s investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282.”
Boeing 737 Max planes are the most commonly used aircraft for commercial flights globally with more than 1,160 in active use.
It comes after a deactivated emergency door used as a regular window blew out on a commercial flight from California to Portland, Oregon, on Friday, causing the cabin depressurize at 16,000 feet.
No one was hurt during the incident and the aircraft was able to land safely back at Portland.
One terrified passenger shared desperate messages sent to loved ones as the ordeal unfolded, with one reading: “I don’t want to die.”
Fliers described seeing a large section of the plane exposed to the elements with dramatic pictures of the aftermath showing a gaping hole in the side of the fuselage.
In a statement following the incident, an Alaska Airlines spokesperson said: “Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California, experienced an incident this evening soon after departure.
“The aircraft landed safely back at Portland International Airport with 171 guests and six crew members.
“The safety of our guests and employees is always our primary priority, so while this type of occurrence is rare, our flight crew was trained and prepared to safely manage the situation.
“We are investigating what happened and will share more information as it becomes available.”
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