Boeing 737: A photo history of the world’s most successful airplane
Troubled aircraft: The Boeing 737 MAX has been grounded since 2019 due to two fatal accidents involving 737 MAX 8 variants.
Courtesy Boeing
Maiden flight: The first 737 was rolled out in early 1967 and took to the skies for the first time on on April 9, 1967.
Courtesy Boeing
Successful upgrade: The plane's first major redesign was the 737-300, which debuted in 1984. This longer and wider new model had a flat-bottomed shape known as the "hamster pouch."
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Next Generation: Measuring 138 feet, the 737-900ER has been the longest 737 model so far, with capacity for up to 215 passengers.
Courtesy Boeing
New phase: The Boeing 737 Max, the fourth generation of the aircraft, was announced in 2011 and rolled out in 2016.
Courtesy Boeing
High demand: Airlines liked the new model and it went on to surpass 5,000 orders, , bringing the total orders for the 737 line to more than 16,000.
Courtesy Boeing
Historic rollout: In March 2018, Boeing rolled out its 10,000th 737 and the model entered the Guinness World Records as the "most produced large commercial jet" . However, disaster struck just a few months later.
Courtesy Boeing
Resuming service: Boeing grounded the entire 737 Max fleet after fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, and production of the plane stopped for months. However, the FAA cleared has since cleared it for takeoff ad airlines in the US will resume flying the aircraft before the end of 2020.