By Mauro Orru


Turkish Airlines said it grounded five Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft in its fleet for inspection following an Alaska Airlines emergency landing on Friday.

A spokesman for Turk Hava Yollari, as the Turkish flag carrier is formally known, said Monday that the decision came as a result of a preliminary investigation from authorities.

"Until the technical investigation process is completed and the measures requested by the authorities are implemented, Turkish Airlines has decided to withdraw the five Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft in its fleet from operation at the first airport they land at. Flight safety is our top priority," the spokesman said.

The decision is unlikely to weigh on the group's operations as Turkish Airlines counted 440 aircraft in its fleet at the end of December.

Alaska Airlines flight 1282 was en route to Ontario, Calif., when it was forced to land back at the Portland International Airport less than 30 minutes after takeoff after a section of the aircraft ripped away in midair, with 171 passengers and six crew members aboard.


Write to Mauro Orru at mauro.orru@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-08-24 0703ET