Alaska Airlines has revealed that the plane involved in the recent incident where a door panel detached midair was scheduled for maintenance on the same day. The airline informed the New York Times that the aircraft was supposed to be taken out of service to investigate two warning lights. This development raises questions about whether the scheduled maintenance would have identified the issue with the door panel, a crucial oversight by Boeing.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will now focus on examining the maintenance records to determine if the omission by Boeing could have been detected earlier. The timeline of events leading up to the incident on January 5th reveals several pressurization warnings in the cockpit on December 7th, January 3rd, and January 4th, which were deemed unrelated to the door panel detachment.
Alaska Airlines has expressed confidence in its maintenance procedures and safety measures preceding the incident. The airline has committed to cooperating fully with the NTSB's investigation to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The NTSB has initiated a comprehensive probe into the incident and recently announced plans for a rare public investigative hearing.
This hearing will allow the NTSB to subpoena relevant parties, potentially including officials from Boeing, to provide testimony. The investigative hearing signifies the gravity of the situation and underscores the importance of a thorough examination to ensure aviation safety standards are upheld.
The NTSB's involvement in the investigation will shed light on the circumstances surrounding the door panel detachment and the effectiveness of maintenance protocols. The public nature of the upcoming hearing indicates a commitment to transparency and accountability in addressing the incident.
