The Federal Aviation Administration announced immediate “new and significant actions” to its increased oversight of Boeing’s aircraft manufacturing and production processes on Friday—one week after an Alaskan Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 plane made international headlines when one of its emergency door plugs blew off mid-flight, jettisoning travelers’ personal items, and forcing an abrupt return to its departing airport. National Transportation Safety Board officials recovered the door plug from the backyard of a Portland, OR, schoolteacher on Sunday.
Approximately six minutes after departing Portland International Airport on January 5, Alaskan Airlines Flight 1282 suddenly lost one of its emergency door plugs while at an altitude of 16,000-feet. Door plugs are installed in place of certain emergency exits if a jet is only outfitted for a lower number of passengers.
Footage supplied by travelers aboard the plane to The New York Times shows a gaping hole on the 737 Max 9’s left side as yellow emergency oxygen masks dangle in front of frightened travelers. None of the flight’s 171 passengers and six crew members were reported seriously injured following its emergency return landing at PIA. An initial assessment provided by NTSB officials indicates none of the door plug’s four bolts had been installed. The 737-9 involved in last week’s emergency had previously been in service since November 2023.
After grounding 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes pending further inspections last week, the FAA has now announced that it will begin an audit of the Boeing 737 Max 9 production process, as well as the company’s suppliers. Results of the initial audit will determine if further investigations are required. Meanwhile, the FAA intends to increase its monitoring of Boeing 737 Max 9 in-service events, as well as assess safety risks, quality control, and delegated authority decisions with the potential to transfer these responsibilities to…
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