Alaska Airlines and United Airlines reported on Monday that they’ve discovered loose components on their 737 Max 9 airplanes during inspections of some grounded Boeing jets. This development has intensified scrutiny on a specific component known as a door plug, following an incident where one detached from a Max 9 aircraft last week. Around 170 planes were taken out of service after the incident involving an Alaska Airlines jet, prompting both United and Alaska, the primary U.S. carriers with this specific door plug configuration, to conduct inspections.
Alaska Airlines disclosed on Monday evening that it is awaiting the formal inspection process but, during preparation, maintenance crews observed “some loose hardware was visible on some aircraft.” United Airlines mentioned that preliminary inspections revealed issues related to installation in the door plug, such as bolts requiring additional tightening, and their maintenance team will address these findings for safe return to service.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced earlier on Monday that airlines could officially begin inspections of their grounded Boeing planes to facilitate their return to service. Boeing expressed regret for the impact on customers and passengers, emphasizing its commitment to meeting design specifications and the highest safety standards.
Investigations into the incident where a door plug detached from a 737 Max 9 near Portland, Oregon, are ongoing. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recovered the detached door plug and aims to gain insights into why this section of the fuselage separated from the plane at 16,000 feet. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of the Boeing 737 Max 9 and questions about the door plug system.
The door plug, a component filling a hole in the fuselage where an optional emergency exit could fit, has been in use for over a decade without significant incidents, according to safety consultant John Cox. Investigators will scrutinize the four bolts holding the door plug and assess their condition to understand the forces leading to its detachment. Boeing and airline regulators are working together to address the situation and ensure the safety of the 737 Max 9 fleet.
The FAA’s grounding order applies to 737 Max 9 planes with the same door plug configuration as the affected aircraft. However, other planes with door plugs, such as the 737-900ER and certain 737 Max 8 planes, are still operating. Regulators in Europe stated that the grounding order does not affect 737-9 aircraft in Europe, emphasizing that they lack the same configuration and can operate normally. Despite these assurances, the ongoing challenges with the Max series contribute to further scrutiny of Boeing’s reputation.
