Federal officials examining the horrifying midflight blowout of part of an Alaska Airlines aircraft’s fuselage said an important piece has been found – a key detail in the investigation of what happened during the plane’s “explosive decompression,” as the carrier and United Airlines said they had found loose hardware on a number of their Boeing 737 Max 9s.
Certain Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft are currently grounded nationwide due to safety concerns. United Airlines confirmed on Monday that it discovered loose bolts on an undisclosed number of its 737 Max 9 planes during FAA-mandated inspections prompted by a recent incident.
United officials stated, “Since we began preliminary inspections on Saturday, we have found instances that appear to relate to installation issues in the door plug – for example, bolts that needed additional tightening.” The news about United’s findings was initially reported by The Air Current, an aviation industry publication.
Following United’s announcement, Alaska Airlines released a statement on Monday reporting that their technicians, in the process of preparing for inspections, observed “some loose hardware was visible on some aircraft.” However, the formal inspection of Alaska Airlines’ fleet is pending as they await final documentation from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration, according to the statement.
Earlier on Monday, a Portland schoolteacher discovered a refrigerator-sized Boeing 737 Max 9 fuselage door plug in his backyard, prompting contact with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), according to NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy during a news conference.
The physics teacher, Bob Sauer, shared with reporters that a tree prevented the object from crashing to the ground. Sauer found the door plug intact in one of the lower branches, with one edge against the ground. the horrifying midflight blowout
Homendy informed CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360” that the door holds valuable information for investigators and is a crucial piece in the ongoing investigation. While investigators have identified the components involved in the door plug detaching, the reasons for its ejection are still unknown.
“We are going to provide what broke. We cannot tell you at this time how or why. We do not have that information,” Homendy stated during a Monday evening news conference.
Typically secured by stop fittings and bolts, the door plug prevents the door from moving during flight. NTSB’s Clint Crookshanks explained at the news conference that somehow, on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, the plug moved upward, posing a challenge for investigators to determine how and why it occurred.