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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Business
Callum Jones in New York

Four bolts appeared to be missing from Boeing panel that blew off, regulator says

This photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board shows a gaping hole where the paneled-over door had been at the fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight on 7 January.
This photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board shows a gaping hole at the fuselage plug area of the Alaska Airlines plane on 7 January. Photograph: NTSB via AP

A cabin panel that blew off a brand-new Boeing 737 Max 9 jet mid-flight appeared to be missing four key bolts, according to an initial report by the US safety regulator.

The bolts meant to hold the door plug in place were absent, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said. It released photographic evidence alongside the preliminary findings of its investigation on Tuesday.

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