According to reports and social media posts, air passengers are changing flights to avoid Boeing airplanes following a rash of recent incidents involving the embattled manufacturer. A nervous traveler touches the outside of the airplane while boarding and prays before takeoff. Another brings anti-anxiety medication.
A third watched YouTube videos narrated by pilots to understand what happens during flights. Such rituals have helped anxious passengers overcome their fear of flying. But in recent months, several travelers said, news of issues on Boeing planes has made these strategies insufficient and threatened their ability to walk down the jetway.
So they have devised a plan to avoid flying on Boeing aircraft, even if it means re-booking flights. “I just can’t step on that plane,” said Leila Amineddoleh, an art lawyer who lives in Hoboken, New Jersey. “Even if the chance of getting hurt on a Boeing flight, even with all these incidents, is slim.”
The Japan Airlines Report
A Japan Airlines plane reportedly burst into flames after colliding with a coast guard aircraft at Tokyo’s Haneda airport. Fortunately, all 379 passengers and crew members escaped safely. Also, a United flight traveling from Sarasota, Chicago, diverted to Tampa International Airport because of a possible mechanical issue, according to the airline.
ALSO READ: Derek Hough Shares Heartwarming IG Snap With Hayley Erbert Amid Brain Surgery Recovery
The carrier, which grounded nearly 80 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, said the plane resumed its flight after the issue was resolved.
Filter Bookings by Aircraft
Besides the recurrent mishaps, some booking sites allow users to filter by aircraft when booking flights and said usage of the 737 Max filter increased threefold in the days following the Alaska Airlines incident. The company reportedly released a more granular feature, the ability for travelers to distinguish between the Max 8 and Max 9 planes.
Reaction to the Recent Scenario
Praying has surfaced as another popular course of action to combat the missteps, which most recently saw a United Airlines plane grounded on March 15, 2024. The plane, a Boeing 737 824, was found to have lost a panel mid-flight, days after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner experienced a drop that injured dozens of passengers.
Both came after an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-MAX 9 lost a door mid-flight in January, prompting a federal investigation. With several incidents since, the FAA is mulling measures to curb United’s growth, like preventing it from adding new routes.
What Alaska Airlines Fliers Think
Jay Franzone, a frequent Alaska Airlines flier based in Honolulu, often uses the airline to go between the mainland and Hawaii, and Max 9s fly those routes. The 28-year-old said the incident has made him think twice about booking flights on the aircraft in the future, “especially since I’m traveling a long distance over water.”
Similarly, Eric Moorer, 35-year-old, of D.C. usually prefers his seating arrangement by the cabin’s plane’s left back side, behind where the pilot would be seated in the cockpit. Moorer said the habit has morphed into a superstition over the years and plays off a similar travel safety adage that the seat behind the driver’s wheel is the safest.
While he doesn’t plan on changing his preferred seating arrangement, Moore changed his flight itinerary for an upcoming work trip to London In March. The day after the Alaska incident, he noticed his own United Airlines flight would use a Boeing Max plane and switched to a British Airways flight, which would be a Boeing Dreamliner.
ALSO READ: Officials Slap Will Smith With Speeding Ticket in Malibu
He spent nearly two hours with United Airlines customer service operators trying to cancel and refund his flight. While it’s hard to predict what the safest seat on a plane might be, Moore said his best bet is changing his travel plans.
“It’s one of those things where you can only do so much in terms of preventative care and preventative thinking,” he said. I try not to let it affect the entirety of my thinking or my travel planning.”
Does Any Flier Decide To Take Precautions?
Jeff Juul, a 33-year-old resident in Shakopee, Minn., plans to avoid taking flights out of United and Alaska Airlines out of precaution. Even if that means having to take a connecting flight or depart from another airport.
But if his flight plans require him to board a Boeing Max aircraft, he begrudgingly plans to do so. Furthermore, he said switching his seating arrangements doesn’t ease his main concern with flying on a Boeing Max aircraft.
It’s hard to predict whether the plane itself will have another issue. Picking a “safer” plane seat is difficult since these incidents can be unpredictable. “It’s kind of just like a false sense of security,” he said.
You Might Also Like:
Deportation Debate: “90 Day Fiancé” Stars Divided Over Prince Harry’s Fate, No Special Treatment
Derek Hough Shares Heartwarming IG Snap With Hayley Erbert Amid Brain Surgery Recovery
Twilight Cast Strikes a ‘Fam-tastic’ Pose at Epic Cons Chicago
“I Survived,” Eric Decker Opens Up About Undergoing Vasectomy
