The Federal Aviation Administration has announced that it will be launching an investigation into Boeing's quality control following the sudden and violent failure of a door plug on a 737 Max 9 aircraft. In a recent statement, the FAA expressed that the in-flight incident on Alaska Airlines 1282 last Friday was unacceptable and measures must be taken to prevent it from occurring again.
The aircraft's fuselage plug detached during Friday's flight, causing a large hole in the side of the plane and ripping headrests off seats. The incident occurred as the plane was flying at 16,000 feet after departing from Portland, Oregon with 177 passengers on board.
The FAA has announced that the investigation will center on whether Boeing neglected to ensure that its finished products met approved design standards and were in a safe condition for operation in accordance with FAA regulations.
The decision to ground the Max 9 planes in the US, operated by Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, was made after discovering loose hardware or bolts in the assembly of door plugs. United Airlines suspects possible installation issues and both airlines are awaiting FAA-mandated inspections before resuming flights. The FAA is currently reviewing guidance from Boeing on the inspections. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun acknowledged in an interview that the door plug failure revealed significant flaws in its manufacturing and quality control processes.
Calhoun explained to CNBC that the fuselage plug blew out, stating it was a mistake that can never occur again. He expressed confidence in the ongoing FAA inspections of all airplanes to ensure they conform to the proven design.
Boeing was requested by the FAA in a letter to provide details on the root cause of the issue and steps taken to prevent its recurrence. The FAA set a 10-day deadline for Boeing to submit any evidence or statements related to the matter. This investigation by the FAA is distinct from the NTSB's probe into the incident itself.
The NTSB spokesperson, Eric Weiss, stated that a preliminary report is anticipated within three to four weeks. In the meantime, the agency has retrieved crucial items that were expelled from the aircraft. A Portland schoolteacher found a piece of the plane's fuselage in his backyard on Sunday and contacted the agency. Additionally, two cell phones that were likely ejected from the plane were discovered in a yard and on the side of the road, and have been handed over to investigators.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy informed CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" on Tuesday that the recovered fuselage plug holds valuable information for investigators and is considered the missing piece in the investigation.
Homendy stated that the planes plug door will be sent to the NTSB's lab for testing. Depending on the airline's configuration request, plugs are sometimes installed by the manufacturer in place of an emergency exit door.
This is a developing story. It will be updated.
