What the Boeing 737 Max 9 investigation reveals
The ongoing investigation began after a door plug flew off of Alaska Airlines flight 1282. Now, many travelers wonder about their safety.
The ongoing investigation began after a door plug flew off of Alaska Airlines flight 1282. Now, many travelers wonder about their safety.
The ongoing investigation began after a door plug flew off of Alaska Airlines flight 1282. Now, many travelers wonder about their safety.
It's been more than a month since a fuselage panel blew off Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 just 10 minutes after takeoff.
“We just all heard there was just a really loud boom, which was so startling. and the plane just filled with wind and air,” passenger Kelly Bartlett said. "You could hear the engine from outside the plane and just the air circulating inside the plane."
As the plane, which had just departed Portland, Oregon, depressurized, oxygen masks dropped and the Alaska Airlines pilot notified ground control.
The plane, a Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft, landed with no major injuries.
Findings from the investigation
The next day, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered the temporary grounding and inspection of 171 Boeing 737-9 Max airplanes. Immediately, the FAA’s investigation turned toward Boeing’s manufacturing and quality control procedures.
In an official statement, the FAA announced it would be conducting:
- An audit involving the Boeing 737-9 Max production line and its suppliers to evaluate Boeing’s compliance with its approved quality procedures. The results of the FAA's audit analysis will determine whether additional audits are necessary.
- Increased monitoring of Boeing 737-9 Max in-service events.
- Assessment of safety risks around delegated authority and quality oversight, and examination of options to move these functions under independent, third-party entities.
The FAA went on to say, “It is time to re-examine the delegation of authority and assess any associated safety risks.”
The first order of business was to inspect the door plugs on each of the 171 aircraft that were grounded.
What’s unique about this model is that if the plane seated more than 189 passengers, it would be an exit door. Because it does not, that space where a door would go is bolted with a windowed panel, known as a door plug, and there is one on each side of the plane.
During the investigation, both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines found loose bolts on their 737-9 Max planes. United Airlines reported at least five airplanes had loose bolts.
Before Alaska Airlines flight 1282 took off, the bolts on the other door plug were tightened.
However, the preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board found that the bolts on the door plug that flew off were actually missing entirely.
These plugs are installed by the subcontractor, Spirit Aerosystems, which spun off from Boeing in 2005. It's the same Spirit Aerosystems that was probed by the U.S. House after two Boeing 737 Max 8 planes crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people.
The 171 Max 9 planes that were grounded after the January incident have completed inspection and have been cleared to fly. However, the investigation into Boeing by the FAA, NTSB, and likely the U.S. House is still ongoing.
Traveler Safety
As the investigations continue and uncover new findings, travelers may have questions about their safety.
The FAA’s clearance of these planes is meant to guarantee your safety. But if you are not comfortable flying on a Boeing 737-9 Max jet, there are several things you can do.
You can check to see what model your flight will be by clicking the details section on most airline reservations. You can also check out Flight Aware’s “Where’s My Plane” feature to find plane information and tail registration.
If you’d like to change your flight after learning the flight details, United Airlines will allow you to do so if seats are available for an additional cost. Alaska Airlines allowed travelers to rebook their flights until Feb. 9. After that, additional costs may apply.