"FAA Recommends Door Plug Inspections for Boeing 737-900ER"

The FAA has recommended new inspections for the mid-exit door plugs of Boeing 737-900ER aircraft to ensure proper security, following a mid-flight door plug blowout incident on an Alaska Airlines 737-9 Max flight in early January. This recommendation comes amid ongoing safety and reliability issues affecting Boeing and its door plug provider Spirit AeroSystems, with the FAA increasing its oversight of Boeing production and manufacturing. Boeing's efforts to return its grounded 737-9 Max to service have faced regulatory challenges, and the company has named an independent adviser to lead a quality review of its commercial quality management system.