In a startling development, United Airlines has discovered loose door plug bolts on multiple Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes, the same type of aircraft involved in the recent alarming incident with Alaska Airlines. On Friday evening, a piece of the plane was violently torn off mid-flight, resulting in a gaping hole in the fuselage. As the investigation into the incident is just beginning, this latest finding by United Airlines raises concerns about the safety of these aircraft.
The door plug, which is essentially a sealed door only visible from the outside, was found to have loose bolts on an undisclosed number of Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes. This discovery comes as a significant breakthrough, as it further aids investigators in understanding how the incident occurred. The National Transportation Safety Board has managed to recover the portion of the fuselage that ejected unexpectedly, just six minutes after flight 1282 took off on Friday.
The ejected piece, akin to the size of a refrigerator and weighing 63 pounds, tumbled 16,000 feet before being discovered in a Portland backyard two days later. As investigators meticulously analyze the bolts, hinges, and roller bearings of the door plug, critical clues are expected to emerge, shedding light on the causes behind its detachment. The force of the rupture was so powerful that it even managed to open the cockpit door, located 26 rows ahead, causing an audible rush of 400 MPH air and prompting the pilots to declare an emergency.
Remarkably, no passengers seated near the hole suffered serious injuries, although seats were contorted, headrests were displaced, and phones were hurled from passengers' hands. The affected plane, a new Boeing 737 MAX 9 that had accumulated just 150 trips under Alaska Airlines, had experienced pressurization issues on three previous occasions. It is yet to be determined if these prior alarms are connected to the in-flight blowout, but investigators are keeping all possibilities open.
As a precautionary measure, the Federal Aviation Administration has temporarily grounded all Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes until emergency inspections can be conducted by Alaska and United Airlines. While the investigation continues, questions have arisen regarding the absence of audio recordings from the cockpit voice recorder, which unfortunately could not be retrieved in time before the automatic overwrite.
This incident highlights the need for improved data collection from cockpit voice recorders, including video, to enhance aircraft safety measures. Investigators, along with regulatory bodies, will meticulously examine the manufacturer and design of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 to ensure the highest safety standards are met.
As the scrutiny intensifies, airlines will be pressed to prioritize safety and vigilantly address any potential issues that may compromise the well-being of passengers and crew. The aviation industry must remain committed to learning from incidents like these to prevent future mishaps and maintain a robust air travel system that passengers can trust.
