US aviation investigators launched an inquiry in Oregon on Sunday to determine the cause behind the sudden ejection of a door panel from a newly manufactured Boeing passenger jet shortly after takeoff. The incident compelled the pilots to execute an emergency landing, leaving a substantial hole described as “the size of a refrigerator” in the aircraft’s side.
Boeing, the American aircraft manufacturer, found itself under renewed scrutiny as regulatory authorities imposed a temporary grounding of the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft. The decision came in response to an Alaska Airlines flight experiencing the detachment of a section of a sealed exit door at an altitude of 16,000 feet (4,877 meters) above Portland, Oregon, on Friday. The flight carried 171 passengers and six crew members. Notably, the affected plane, only weeks old, had undergone modifications that resulted in fewer emergency exits due to a reduced seating capacity.
But investigators – who solicited the public’s help tracking down the Alaska Airlines plane door, which remained missing Sunday – said that initial findings do not suggest a widespread flaw with the Boeing Max 9 aircraft.
“We’ll scrutinize the pressurization system, examine the door and hinges,” stated Jennifer Homendy, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), during a press conference. “Do we suspect an overall design problem with this plane based on previous accidents involving Boeing Max? At this time, no.” US aviation investigators
The incident prompted widespread flight cancellations, affecting thousands of passengers, mainly in the US. Airlines are complying with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) order, deploying inspectors and causing disruptions expected to persist into the next week.
Fortunately, no serious injuries occurred during Friday’s emergency landing. However, the event has reignited safety concerns about Boeing planes, coming five years after two fatal accidents resulted in 346 deaths, damaging the company’s reputation significantly. The crashes in 2018 and 2019 involved Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, leading to a global grounding for almost two years due to hardware malfunctions and poorly designed software.
In December, Boeing issued a directive for airlines to inspect its 737 Max jets for a potential loose bolt in the rudder control system. The recent incident over Portland involved a different model, the 737 Max 9, Boeing’s largest single-aisle aircraft with a seating capacity of up to 220. However, most airlines opted for fewer seats, resulting in the jet’s optional extra door being plugged or covered.
The blown-out section of the covered extra door in the fuselage occurred midair, raising concerns about design, manufacturing, and installation. Both Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas, and Boeing’s plant near Seattle, Washington, where the complex installation process was completed, are expected to undergo scrutiny for potential flaws.
Investigators suspect an incorrect installation or rigging of the door plug, a common practice for flexible seating adaptations in the aviation industry. The altitude at which the door panel detached suggests a pressure-related issue, indicating that the door may not have maintained proper pressure inside the fuselage, according to Jeff Guzzetti, a former NTSB and FAA official.
Passengers were fortunate that the incident occurred before reaching cruising altitude, allowing them to be seated with seat belts fastened. Homendy emphasized the potential for a more tragic outcome if the blowout had occurred during the cruising phase when passengers are typically up and walking without seat belts.