Boeing 737 Max Jet Grounded After Experiencing 'Dutch Roll' During Fight

The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation after a Boeing 737 Max 8 jet experienced a "Dutch roll" during a recent flight from Phoenix, Arizona, to Oakland, California.

A Dutch roll causes the aircraft to roll in one direction and yaw in another, creating an unpleasant experience for the passengers and crew. A Dutch roll is a rare occurrence because modern aircraft have systems designed to prevent it from happening.

The incident happened about 40 minutes after take-off while the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 32,000 feet. The pilots were able to regain control of the aircraft and land the plane safely in Oakland about an hour later. There were no reported injuries to the 175 passengers and six crew members.

The aircraft was pulled from service, and a preliminary inspection uncovered damage to the standby Power Control Unit, which controls the rudder. The plane was then moved to Paine Field (PAE) in Washington state, where one of Southwest's maintenance vendors is based.

Inspectors are still trying to determine what caused the plane to experience the Dutch roll.