The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report regarding the recent Alaska Airlines door plug blowout incident, revealing that four crucial bolts were absent from the mechanism at the time of the event.
Following the occurrence, which led to the grounding of 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft with similar mid-cabin door plugs, Boeing has faced heightened scrutiny from regulators. The incident, characterized by an explosive decompression on January 5, prompted extensive investigations into the safety and integrity of Boeing’s operations.
The NTSB’s preliminary findings highlight the absence of two vertical movement arrestor bolts, two upper guide track bolts, forward lower hinge guide fitting, and forward lift assist spring. These missing components, as stated in the report, were not recovered, indicating a glaring oversight in the aircraft’s maintenance.
According to the NTSB, there were no discernible damage patterns or evidence of contact damage or deformation around the areas where the bolts should have been secured. The recovered aft lower hinge guide fitting suggests that the four bolts crucial for preventing upward movement of the MED plug were absent prior to the incident.
Furthermore, the report reveals that the bolts were removed during other repair work at the Boeing factory after the fuselage delivery, but were not reinstated before the reinstallation of interior wall panels, indicating a critical lapse in maintenance procedures.
Flight data from Flight Aware indicates that the Max 9 aircraft involved in the Alaska Airlines incident had completed 151 flights prior to the emergency, including test flights and the delivery flight from Boeing to Alaska Airlines, during which no paying passengers were aboard.
In response to the incident and the ensuing investigations, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has escalated its oversight of Boeing’s production processes. During a hearing on Capitol Hill, FAA administrator Mike Whitaker emphasized the agency’s commitment to prioritizing safety amidst ongoing scrutiny of Boeing’s operations.
Boeing, in a statement addressing the findings, expressed its cooperation with the NTSB and FAA investigations and pledged to enhance its manufacturing processes to ensure safety. CEO David Calhoun acknowledged Boeing’s accountability for the incident and stressed the company’s commitment to implementing comprehensive measures to bolster quality and stakeholder confidence.
Calhoun emphasized the need for rigorous self-assessment and transparency, recognizing that the incident underscores areas where improvement is imperative. He affirmed Boeing’s dedication to leveraging increased scrutiny to drive positive change and enhance safety standards across its operations.
In summary, the NTSB’s preliminary report sheds light on critical oversights in maintenance procedures that contributed to the Alaska Airlines door plug blowout incident. Boeing and regulatory agencies are actively collaborating to address the findings and implement measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future, underscoring the paramount importance of safety in aviation.
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