United Airlines reported on Monday that it discovered loose bolts during inspections of its 737 Max 9 fleet following an incident where a door plug was blown out of an Alaska Airlines plane over the weekend.
Alaska Airlines, in response, stated that initial inspections of its 737 MAX 9 fleet unveiled "some loose hardware" visible on certain aircraft. The airline emphasized its commitment to addressing any findings in accordance with safety standards and FAA compliance.
United Airlines refrained from specifying the number of planes affected by loose bolts, stating that preliminary inspections revealed installation issues in the door plug, such as bolts requiring additional tightening. The airline assured that its Tech Ops team would rectify these findings to ensure the safe return of the aircraft to service.
Due to the emergency inspections, United had to cancel 200 Max 9 flights on Monday, with expectations of "significant cancellations" on Tuesday as well.
In response to United's findings, Boeing issued a statement, expressing commitment to work closely with operators during required inspections and ensuring adherence to safety and quality standards. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded all 737 Max 9s in the wake of the Alaska Airlines incident, prioritizing the safety of the flying public.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), currently investigating the Alaska Airlines incident near Portland, Oregon, is yet to comment on United Airlines' announcement. NTSB investigators recovered the 63-pound door plug that fell off Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, providing a crucial piece of evidence for microscopic examination.
The midair incident caused "explosive decompression," prompting the Alaska Airlines flight crew to return to Portland with a hole in the jet's side. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy emphasized the potential for a more tragic outcome if the incident occurred at a higher altitude.
Homendy detailed the chaotic scene inside the cabin, where the detachment of the door plug led to violent effects, including items being sucked out of the plane. The investigation is also looking into three previous incidents on the Alaska Airlines plane related to the auto pressurization fail light, although the correlation with the door plug incident remains unclear.
While the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was recovered, it contained no useful data due to its two-hour reset and rerecord cycle. Investigators are closely examining the door plug, its frame, and related components to determine the root cause of the incident, alongside conducting interviews with the flight crew and passengers.
(With Agency Inputs)
