By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday that it would not allow Boeing to expand 737 MAX production in the wake of a mid-air emergency on an Alaska Airlines jet, but the MAX 9 model involved could return to service after inspections. The blowout of a cabin panel on Jan. 5 led the aviation regulator to ground 171 737 MAX 9 jets and resulted in the cancellation of thousands of flights by U.S. carriers Alaska Airlines and United Airlines. The FAA said the halt to expanding production of Boeing’s best-selling 737 MAX narrowbody family was nee…