What transpired during the Alaska Airlines flight: A visual analysis in 5 charts

Two major US airlines are in a rush to manage cancellations and new required inspections after the Federal Aviation Administration grounded 171 planes following a mid-flight blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight on Friday.

The incident occurred when a Boeing 737 Max 9 lost a part of its fuselage shortly after taking off from Portland, Oregon en route to Ontario, California. Although the plane safely returned to the airport, the incident prompted a federal investigation and raised concerns about Boeing and the 737 Max 9 models used by US airlines.

CNN reviewed industry data to track the unfolding of the event. The terrifying ordeal, which included the door panel becoming dislodged during takeoff from Portland International Airport, started at 5:07 p.m. local time on Friday.

The airplane ascended to 16,300 feet initially, which is about halfway to the typical cruising altitude for a commercial flight. Shortly after, it rapidly descended, deviating from its course and landing at 5:26 pm, as reported by industry tracker Flightradar 24.

According to Alaska Airlines, up to 50 seats on the flight were unoccupied, which included the two seats next to the opening in the fuselage caused by the detached door panel.

United Airlines operates 78 Boeing 737 Max 9 models, while Alaska Airlines operates 65. The aircraft is used by at least 11 carriers worldwide, although not all of them operate in the US.

The mandatory inspections by the FAA resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations from Saturday to Tuesday, as reported by FlightAware.

The FAA anticipated that the inspections would last between four to eight hours per aircraft, potentially leading to days of grounded planes. Alaska Airlines cautioned passengers about "significant cancellations" through the first half of the week.

The majority of the current aircraft models have a seating configuration that does not necessitate the use of a rear emergency exit door. In such instances, the door is "plugged," as was the case on the Alaska Airlines flight.

The panel that seems to have become loose during the flight has been found. The National Transportation Safety Board announced on Monday that they have retrieved the faulty door plug and will be sending it to a lab for testing. The FAA stated that the plane in question will stay out of service until inspections are conducted on both the right and left cabin door plugs along with their related parts and connections.

The agency stated on Monday that operators are required to fulfill corrective action requirements stemming from inspections before returning any aircraft to service. The incident not only causes disruptions for airlines and passengers, but it could also increase pressure and scrutiny on Boeing, the manufacturer of the planes. The aviation company has been working to rebuild its reputation following two well-known and fatal crashes involving an earlier model of the 737 Max a few years ago.

Several crashes in 2018 and 2019 were attributed to flight operations software issues and gaps in pilot training, resulting in the deaths of over 340 passengers. The FAA imposed a 20-month grounding and Boeing incurred approximately $20 billion in expenses for customer compensation, legal fees, and other costs. United Airlines reported "installation issues" in its fleet following preliminary inspections, specifically finding loose bolts in the door plugs after the Portland flight.

Boeing's shares dropped 8% on Monday. The company has pledged to assist its customers in resolving any issues found during inspections. In a statement, Boeing expressed its commitment to upholding design specifications and the highest safety and quality standards for every Boeing airplane. The company also apologized for the impact on its customers and their passengers.