According to a recent report, the door of a Boeing 737 Max aircraft that blew off during an Alaska Airlines flight was found to be missing bolts that are designed to secure the panel. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report indicating that four bolts, which are intended to lock the door to the body of the plane, were removed during a repair by Boeing and were not replaced.
Key Takeaway
The NTSB’s preliminary report suggests that the absence of bolts in the Boeing 737 Max door may have led to the in-flight door detachment incident on the Alaska Airlines flight. The investigation is ongoing to further understand the factors contributing to the incident.
NTSB Investigation Findings
The NTSB’s investigation revealed that the bolts were removed at a Boeing factory during a repair to fix damaged rivets on the plane’s fuselage. It is unclear who removed the bolts, as the NTSB report does not specify, but it appears that at least three and possibly all four bolts were never reinstalled after the rivet repair. The report also states that Boeing removed the bolts for a repair in September, and there is no evidence that the door was opened again before the 737 Max was delivered to Alaska Airlines in October.
Incident Details
The incident occurred in January when the door blew off shortly after Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 departed from Portland International Airport. The plane, carrying passengers, was forced to make an emergency landing. Following the incident, Boeing’s 737 Max planes were grounded as airlines inspected the bolts on the doors. Despite some concerns about the timing, the aircraft has recently been cleared to resume operations.
Ongoing Investigation
The NTSB has stated that it is continuing to investigate the incident to determine the root cause of the door detachment and the circumstances surrounding the missing bolts.
