The NTSB report revealed that a Boeing 737 Max experienced a door plug blowout due to missing bolts, which were removed during manufacturing and never reinstalled, highlighting Boeing's failure in oversight and training. The incident, which occurred over Portland, resulted in no injuries but raised serious safety concerns and ongoing investigations into Boeing's manufacturing practices and other crashes.
The National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report on the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 accident involving a detached mid exit door plug on a Boeing 737-9 MAX jet reveals that four bolts crucial for preventing the plug from moving upward were missing. The investigation suggests that the bolts may have been removed and not replaced during additional work performed on the aircraft at Boeing. The NTSB has not located the missing bolts and is examining manufacturing records to determine why the bolts were missing when the aircraft was received by Alaska Airlines. The incident led to a temporary grounding of the fleet and an FAA mandate for inspections and maintenance on all similar aircraft.
Boeing withdraws its application for a safety exemption for the 737 Max 7 as details emerge about missing bolts on a 737 Max 9 plane used by Alaska Airlines, indicating that the bolts needed to secure a part of the plane were missing when it left Boeing's factory. The incident led to a near-disaster and emergency landing. Additionally, US Sen. Tammy Duckworth pressured the FAA to reject Boeing's request for an exemption related to an anti-ice system on the 737 Max 7, which could cause engine nacelle failure. Boeing has since withdrawn the request and is committed to incorporating an engineering solution to ensure safety.
A Virgin Atlantic flight from Manchester to New York was canceled after a passenger noticed four missing fasteners on the wing of the Airbus A330, prompting additional engineering maintenance checks. Despite reassurances from the crew, the passenger expressed concern following a recent Alaska Airlines incident. Virgin Atlantic stated that the safety of customers and crew was not compromised, and the aircraft is now back in service after the missing fasteners were replaced. Airbus UK's Chief Wing Engineer confirmed that the missing fasteners had no impact on the aircraft's safety, and the plane underwent an additional maintenance check as a precautionary measure.
A Virgin Atlantic flight from Manchester to NYC was canceled after a passenger noticed missing bolts on a wing panel, prompting precautionary maintenance checks. While the missing bolts were not a safety concern, the airline rebooked passengers on alternative flights. This incident follows a federal investigation into a Boeing 737 Max 9 after a door plug fell off mid-flight, prompting the FAA to ground all Boeing 737 Max 9 planes for a new inspection and maintenance process.
