Alaska Airlines Faces Safety Concerns After Loose Bolts Found on 737 Max 9s
In a recent safety inspection, Alaska Airlines discovered “many” loose bolts on its fleet of Boeing 737 Max 9 planes. This inspection was prompted by an in-flight emergency earlier this month when a door plug came loose, causing a window to blow out. As a result, Flight 1282 from Portland to Ontario, California, had to make an emergency landing, and the airline decided to ground all 65 of its Boeing 737 Max 9 planes.
Alaska Airlines CEO, Ben Minicucci, expressed his frustration and anger at the findings. He stated, “It happened to our guests and our people. My demand on Boeing is what are they going to do to improve their quality program in-house.” The CEO also announced that the company would be sending its audit people to oversee Boeing’s production line and audit their quality control systems.
The loose bolts were found in the door plug, which is installed with four stop bolts. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), currently investigating the incident, revealed that the door plug fitted into the Alaska Airlines plane involved in the incident was found “fractured.” The NTSB is now determining whether the bolts were present or if something caused them to fail.
This safety concern is not limited to Alaska Airlines. United Airlines also reported finding loose bolts related to installation issues in the door plug of their Boeing 737 Max planes. In response to these ongoing issues, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has urged airline carriers to conduct inspections on other Boeing models, including the 737 900ER.
The situation has raised questions about the design of the plane. Justin Green, an aviation accident attorney, highlighted that many pilots are confused about the need for a door plug in the first place. He suggested that it may be an optional emergency exit created for airlines seeking higher seat capacity, which could potentially reduce the risk of errors. Green also emphasized the importance of scrutinizing the system’s design if loose bolts are indeed the cause of the Alaska Airlines incident.
As investigations continue, passengers affected by the incident have filed a lawsuit against Boeing and Alaska Airlines. The lawsuit claims that they experienced intense fear, distress, anxiety, and trauma during the flight. Justin Green, who served as a cochair on the plaintiff’s committee for the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash, believes that this lawsuit will be successful and hopes it will lead to improvements in Boeing’s quality control process.
The safety concerns surrounding the Boeing 737 Max planes have also impacted United Airlines’ future orders. United Airlines CEO, Scott Kirby, stated that they are considering moving away from the Max 10 version of the plane. He referred to the grounding of the Max 9 planes as the final straw, leading them to develop an alternative plan without the Max 10.
While the exact cause of the Alaska Airlines incident is yet to be determined, these recent revelations highlight the need for further investigation into the plane’s design and the effectiveness of its systems. The NTSB continues to search for answers, and passengers affected by the incident hope that their lawsuit will not only provide compensation but also drive improvements in quality control processes within the aviation industry.
