Alaska and United Airlines Find Loose Parts on Boeing 737 Max 9 Aircraft
Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have discovered loose parts on their grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft during inspections. The focus is on a component called a door plug, which blew off a Max 9 aircraft last week, prompting the grounding of about 170 planes. These two airlines are the major carriers flying Boeing jets with this specific door plug configuration. Both airlines are awaiting the formal inspection process to begin, but preliminary inspections have already revealed loose hardware and bolts that needed additional tightening.
FAA Allows Official Inspections of Grounded Boeing Planes
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given airlines permission to conduct official inspections of their grounded Boeing planes. Boeing has stated that they are committed to ensuring the safety and quality standards of their airplanes. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recovered the door plug that blew off the 737 Max 9 and hopes it will provide important clues about the incident. The door plug is a component that fills a hole in the plane’s fuselage, similar to a regular window. It is held in place by four bolts, and the condition of these bolts will be closely examined by investigators.
Questions Raised About the Door Plug System
The incident involving the door plug has raised concerns about the safety of the Boeing 737 Max 9. The door plug system has been in use for over a decade without major incidents, according to safety consultant John Cox. However, investigators will thoroughly examine the door and its components to understand why it detached from the plane. The door plug and other fuselage components are manufactured by Spirit AeroSystems, a Boeing supplier based in Wichita, Kansas.
Enhanced Inspections and Corrective Actions
The FAA has ordered enhanced inspections of the door plugs, door components, and fasteners on the grounded Boeing Max 9 planes. Operators must complete these inspections and take any necessary corrective actions based on the findings. The FAA estimates that inspections will take about four to eight hours per aircraft. The grounding order only applies to certain configurations of the Max 9 planes with the door plug, while other planes with door plugs, such as the 737-900ER and some 737 Max 8 planes, are still allowed to fly.
Impact on European Airlines
Regulators in Europe have stated that the grounding order will not affect European airlines, as the 737-9 aircraft operating in Europe do not have the same door plug configuration. European airlines, including Ryanair, fly the Boeing 737 Max 9 with emergency exits instead of door plugs. While this incident appears to be isolated, it adds to the ongoing challenges faced by Boeing and raises questions about the reputation of the Max series.