The conglomerate led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Industries Ltd., operates a Boeing 737-9 Max variant one of the Alaska Airlines that has come under global scrutiny following a mid-flight fuselage section incident on Friday.
Cirium flight data indicates that Reliance Industries is the sole entity in possession of a corporate jet with this specific Boeing 737-9 Max variant featuring a plugged mid-cabin exit door.
While the recent Alaska Airlines incident involving the same model did not result in fatalities, it has prompted widespread concerns about the aircraft’s safety, leading several carriers to ground their entire fleets. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an order on Saturday temporarily halting certain Max 9 aircraft for inspection.
Reliance Industries incorporated the Boeing 737-9 Max into its corporate fleet last year, identified with the registration T7-LOTUS and adorned in Reliance livery. Despite media reports confirming this addition, a spokesperson for Reliance has not yet responded to requests for comments. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has instructed carriers to inspect Boeing’s 737-8 Max jets, another model, completing the one-time inspection by Sunday.
In addition to the Boeing 737-9 Max, Reliance Industries maintains various other aircraft in its corporate fleet, including two Embraer SA ERJ 145 aircraft and one Airbus SE A319. The company also houses two helicopters, a Dauphin and a Sikorsky, in its hangar, as reported by various media outlets.
Mukesh Ambani, with a net worth of $97.5 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, heads the conglomerate. Apart from Alaska Air, United Airlines Holdings Inc., and Copa Airlines SA, a few other carriers, such as flydubai, Aeromexico, and Air Tanzania, operate the Boeing 737-9 Max with the mid-cabin exit door plugged.
Alaska Air, United Airlines, and Copa have already grounded numerous aircraft of this model in their fleets. Boeing’s 737-9 Max, being the longest single-aisle variant, offers flexible cabin configurations with modular fuselage layouts allowing for adaptable emergency door installations based on seating arrangements. Notably, the cabin exit door behind the wings on the Max 9 is designed for activation in dense seating configurations to meet evacuation requirements, but this feature was permanently plugged on Alaska Air aircraft.
Asia’s wealthiest individual, Mukesh Ambani, and his conglomerate, Reliance Industries Ltd., have come under scrutiny as the exclusive user of a Boeing 737-9 Max variant, which is now facing a global investigation following a mid-flight fuselage incident on Friday. Flight data from Cirium reveals that Reliance Industries is the sole owner of this corporate jet, distinguished by its unique feature—a plugged mid-cabin exit door.
Boeing 737-9 Max jet type– ALASKA AIRLINES
Although the recent Alaska Airlines incident did not result in any fatalities, it has raised significant concerns about the safety of the specific Boeing model, casting doubts on Boeing’s overall safety record. In response, multiple carriers have taken the precautionary step of grounding their entire fleets.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued an order on Saturday, mandating the temporary suspension of certain Max 9 aircraft flights for inspection. Reliance Industries added the Boeing 737-9 Max to its corporate fleet last year, as reported by various media outlets. The aircraft, identified by the registration T7-LOTUS, proudly displays Reliance branding. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has urged carriers to conduct a one-time inspection of Boeing’s 737-8 Max jets, a different plane model, with inspections to be completed by Sunday.
In addition to the Boeing 737-9 Max, Reliance maintains a diverse range of aircraft in its corporate fleet, including two Embraer SA ERJ 145 planes and one Airbus SE A319. Media reports also suggest the presence of two helicopters—a Dauphin and a Sikorsky—in the company’s hangar. Apart from Alaska Air, United Airlines Holdings Inc., and Panama’s Copa Airlines SA, a few other carriers, including flydubai, Aeromexico, and Air Tanzania, operate aircraft with the mid-cabin door sealed.
