Federal Investigation Targets Specific Alaska Airlines Jet After Midair Emergency
A recent midair emergency involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet has triggered a federal investigation. The aircraft encountered a critical situation when a door plug was dislodged, resulting in a substantial hole in the fuselage. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), led by Jennifer Homendy, has launched a comprehensive inquiry into the incident that unfolded on Friday.
The probe is focused on the missing door plug and the particular jet from Alaska Airlines. This examination is not part of a broader review of the 737 MAX series or other aircraft fitted with similar door plugs. In response to the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a temporary grounding of Boeing 737 Max 9 planes to facilitate inspections in the vicinity of the door plug areas.
The door plug, a component found on most Boeing 737 Max 9 jets, acts as a seal for an emergency exit that is not required by certain carriers due to their seating arrangements. Airlines like Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, which have seating capacities below 180, do not necessitate the use of the additional mid-cabin exits to comply with US evacuation standards. Consequently, these exits are secured with a permanent plug that is the same size as an exit door.
Spirit AeroSystems, a key Boeing commercial airplane supplier, is charged with the installation of these door plugs. The company has been assembling 737 fuselages at its Wichita, Kansas facility. Spirit AeroSystems is a separate entity from Spirit Airlines and has previously been associated with manufacturing quality issues in both the Max and the larger Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The NTSB’s investigative team, which includes a metallurgist, is diligently working to ascertain the cause of the incident. Although the NTSB chair has refrained from conjecturing about potential causes, the team is determined to examine the exit-door plug, provided they can locate it. The investigation is anticipated to last a year or more, as the team thoroughly evaluates the evidence to identify the contributing factors to the in-flight anomaly.
The aviation community is closely monitoring the situation as the NTSB conducts its detailed investigation into the Alaska Airlines incident. The FAA’s decision to ground the affected aircraft for inspections highlights the gravity of the event. As the inquiry advances, the findings are expected to enhance the safety and dependability of air travel. This event underscores the critical nature of maintaining stringent safety protocols and the ongoing commitment to ensuring these standards are met within the aviation industry.
