Alaska Airlines Incident Highlights Undisclosed Boeing Cockpit Door Feature to Pilots

A recent incident on an Alaska Airlines flight has brought to light another undisclosed feature in Boeing aircraft, raising concerns among pilots and federal investigators. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair, Jennifer Homendy, revealed in a news briefing that Boeing had not informed pilots that the cockpit door might swing open during rapid depressurization.

This unexpected occurrence was experienced by the flight crew aboard last week’s Alaska Airlines flight, which underwent a sudden fuselage rupture. According to Homendy, the cockpit doors flew open immediately after the panelled-over exit door detached from the fuselage, surprising the flight attendants and pilots. A flight attendant reportedly struggled to close the door, succeeding only after three attempts.

This revelation from Homendy draws parallels to previous criticisms faced by Boeing, particularly concerning the 737 MAX line of planes. Pilots operating the 737-8 model had expressed concerns about insufficient training on the aircraft’s flight control system, which was implicated in two fatal crashes. In response to these incidents, in 2020, Boeing required pilots to undergo new simulator training, including training for erroneous angle of attack sensor malfunctions, as part of reintroducing the 737 MAX into service.

Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association representing American Airlines pilots, commented on the situation, stating, “It’s another round of Boeing not telling pilots about an airplane detail, which erodes the trust relationship and more importantly, it narrows the safety margin.”

In light of these events, Homendy noted that Boeing plans to update its MAX 9 manual to clearly indicate that the doors are designed to open under certain conditions. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced in June that it would require a secondary barrier between the passenger cabin and cockpit in new commercial planes manufactured starting in the summer of 2025.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, politico.com