Jan. 11, 2024
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1 min read
FAA to probe Boeing over quality control following Alaska 737 MAX 9 accident
The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that it has launched a formal investigation Boeing’s quality control processes.
The probe comes following last week’s accident aboard an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 aircraft departing Portland, Oregon. The left door plug on the jet, which seals part of the fuselage where an emergency exit is sometimes installed on certain variations of the plane, tore free as the aircraft climbed through 16,000 feet, causing the cabin to rapidly depressurize. The seats next to the plug happened to be empty, and no one was seriously injured.
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The FAA on Saturday ordered all 737 MAX 9s with the window plug grounded pending inspection, and both Alaska and United Airlines, the other MAX 9 operator in the U.S., both found some aircraft with installation defects including loose bolts.
“This incident should have never happened and it cannot happen again,” the FAA said in a statement. “Boeing’s manufacturing practices need to comply with the high safety standards they’re legally accountable to meet.”
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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