Boeing Max 9 Door Panel Incident And Crisis Deepens; United Airlines Uncovers Bolt Issues, The Mystery In Oregon Skies
In what can only be called startling, a recent incident involving a Boeing Max 9 passenger jet in Oregon has placed the renowned aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, under fresh scrutiny. A door panel blew out just minutes after takeoff, leaving a sizable hole in the aircraft's side and prompting regulators to temporarily ground the Boeing 737 Max 9 fleet. This incident has reignited concerns about the safety of Boeing planes, especially as the aircraft involved was recently modified to reduce emergency exits. Thus, the turbulence surrounding Boeing's 737 MAX series continues to escalate as United Airlines recently disclosed the discovery of loose bolts on multiple 737 MAX 9 aircraft. The industry is on edge as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing grapple with the implications of this latest setback.
Investigators are currently examining a peculiar incident involving a Boeing Max 9 passenger jet in Oregon, where a door panel blew out just minutes after takeoff, resulting in a substantial hole in the aircraft’s side.
The unexpected occurrence has brought Boeing under renewed scrutiny, prompting US aviation investigators to initiate on-site investigations to determine the cause of the incident.
The occurrence involved a section of an exit door detaching from an Alaska Airlines flight over Portland, Oregon, while carrying 171 passengers and six crew members.
Notably, the affected aircraft was newly acquired and had undergone modifications, reducing the number of emergency exits due to a decreased seating capacity.
Despite the severity of the incident, initial findings from investigators do not point towards a systemic flaw in the Boeing Max 9 aircraft.
Jennifer Homendy, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), emphasized the ongoing examination of critical components such as the pressurization system, door, and hinges; at present, there is no suspicion of an overarching design issue based on the aircraft’s previous history.
As a consequence of the incident, thousands of passengers, primarily in the United States, experienced flight cancellations and further disruptions, which are anticipated in the coming week.
Airlines are diligently complying with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) order, deploying inspectors to ensure the safety of the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft.
Fortunately, while no serious injuries occurred during the emergency landing on Friday; however, the incident has reignited safety concerns surrounding Boeing planes, occurring five years after two fatal accidents involving Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, which claimed the lives of 346 individuals.
The global grounding of all Max aircraft for nearly two years followed, during which engineers identified hardware malfunctions and poorly designed software as the causes, leading to the planes overriding pilot commands and experiencing fatal descents.
What’s Going On
In December, Boeing issued a directive urging airlines to inspect their 737 Max aircraft for a potential loose bolt in the rudder control system.
The recent incident over Portland, however, involved a distinct model; the 737 Max 9, now Boeing’s largest single-aisle aircraft with a seating capacity of up to 220, differs in the configuration as most airlines opt for fewer seats, resulting in the optional extra door being covered or plugged.
The midair occurrence implicated a section of the covered “extra” door in the fuselage—the central body of the plane encompassing the cabin, cockpit, and cargo compartments—that unexpectedly blew out.
Manufactured by Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas, the fuselage underwent the intricate two-tier installation process at Boeing’s facility near Seattle, Washington. Investigators are anticipated to scrutinize both factories for potential issues in design, manufacturing, and installation.
Door plugs, a longstanding practice in the aviation industry to accommodate adaptable seating, were utilized in this case; some sources indicate that the assumption is an incorrect installation or rigging, though Boeing and Spirit have refrained from commenting.
Jeff Guzzetti, a former NTSB and FAA official, suggests a pressure-related issue due to the altitude at which the door panel blew out. The incident occurred at a lower altitude than expected, indicating a failure in maintaining fuselage pressure.
Passengers experienced a harrowing near miss, mitigated by the fact that the blowout happened before the plane reached cruising altitude, with passengers still securely seated with fastened lap belts and the potential severity of the incident is stressed by the absence of passengers in the window seat next to the covered exit door.
Approximately 215 Boeing Max 9 airplanes operate globally, with United and Alaska accounting for 70% of the jets in service.
The FAA has grounded and mandated inspections for only the modified 737 Max 9 aircraft with lower seating capacity, including a covered exit door.
Boeing emphasized its commitment to safety in a Friday statement, stating that its technical team is supporting the NTSB investigation and endorsing the FAA’s immediate inspections directive for 737-9 airplanes with the same configuration.
Notably, the Aviation Safety Network reveals that over 4,900 individuals have lost their lives in significant incidents involving Boeing 737 family planes since its launch in the late 1960s.
The Blow
United Airlines disclosed on Monday that it had identified issues with loose bolts on multiple Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft; this comes in the wake of a panel detachment incident on an Alaska Airlines-operated plane, leading to the grounding of the entire Boeing model.
Air Current, an industry publication, reported that United discovered problematic bolts on at least five panels during inspections prompted by the recent accident.
Both the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing have refrained from commenting on the findings.
In a statement, United Airlines acknowledged the discovery of installation issues related to the door plug, specifically bolts requiring additional tightening during preliminary inspections initiated on Saturday.
The airline assured that its Tech Ops team would address these findings to ensure the safe return of the aircraft to service.
On Monday, Boeing and U.S. regulators granted approval for airlines to conduct inspections on the grounded jets. The examinations, involving 171 MAX planes predominantly operated by U.S. carriers Alaska and United Airlines, are expected to span several days, resulting in numerous flight cancellations.
Boeing experienced an 8% drop in shares on Monday as the company grapples with the aftermath of the unexpected panel emergency.
The incident marks another setback for Boeing, adding to a series of production delays that have impeded its recovery from the extensive safety grounding of the 737 MAX in 2019.
The Last Bit, While the recent incident has raised concerns and led to temporary disruptions in air travel, the ongoing investigation suggests that there might not be a widespread design flaw with the Boeing Max 9 aircraft.
Boeing, already grappling with the aftermath of previous fatal accidents, now faces the challenge of rebuilding trust and addressing safety concerns.
Meanwhile, United Airlines’ revelation of loose bolts on multiple aircraft adds a new layer of complexity; the FAA’s temporary grounding order for inspections has cast a shadow over the aviation industry, leading to widespread flight cancellations.
Boeing’s shares took a significant hit, reflecting the market’s apprehension about the company’s ability to overcome the latest challenges.
As investigations unfold, the focus now shifts to how swiftly and effectively Boeing can address the identified issues, restoring confidence in the safety and reliability of the 737 MAX series
The outcome of this investigation will undoubtedly have lasting implications for Boeing and the broader aviation community, influencing future safety standards and protocols.
