Alaska Airlines CEO Reports Loose Bolts on Boeing 737-9s, Raises Quality Concerns
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci disclosed in a “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” interview that the airline found “some loose bolts on many” Boeing 737-9 aircraft. The revelation marks Minicucci’s first media appearance since the alarming incident of a door plug detaching from an Alaska Airlines Max 9 shortly after departure from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, necessitating an emergency landing.
Expressing his discontent, Minicucci stated, “I am angry. This incident involving Flight 1282 should not have occurred. Boeing is expected to uphold higher standards.” His comments come ahead of the full interview’s broadcast.
Amidst these developments, Boeing announced a “quality stand down” at its Renton, Washington facility, scheduled for Thursday. Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal emphasized this pause for quality-focused working sessions as a part of Boeing’s immediate response to the quality issues.
This quality stand down at Boeing’s 737 factory, as communicated internally, is the first in a series planned for its facilities.
When NBC probed Minicucci about broader quality control issues at Boeing, he highlighted the need for Boeing to enhance its quality program to ensure aircraft excellence. He added that Alaska Airlines would implement additional oversight on Boeing’s production line.
This incident has prompted the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to advise airlines to inspect door plugs on earlier Boeing 737 models. Both United Airlines and Alaska Airlines have reported finding loose bolts in newer Max 9s during recent inspections.
The FAA, having initiated a formal investigation into Boeing’s quality control two weeks ago, is currently reviewing data from inspections of 40 sample aircraft to assess their airworthiness.
Also, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun is scheduled to visit Capitol Hill this week for meetings with several senators, following the recent grounding of the 737-9 Max. Among the key figures Calhoun is slated to meet are Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, and Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat, along with other influential lawmakers.
Minicucci noted the intensive nature of these inspections, requiring approximately 10 hours per door.
Responding to the situation, Stan Deal expressed Boeing’s regret over the inconvenience caused to its airline customers and their commitment to a comprehensive plan for safe service resumption and quality improvement.
Meanwhile, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby voiced disappointment over Boeing’s recurring manufacturing issues, despite United being one of Boeing’s largest customers. He indicated a potential reevaluation of United’s reliance on Boeing, particularly concerning the Max 10 model.
United, which operates 79 Boeing 737-9s – more than any other airline – had to reschedule nearly 8,000 flights this month due to the grounding, per aviation analytics firm Cirium. Kirby’s comments suggest a strategic shift away from the yet-to-be-certified 737-10.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnbc.com, reuters.com