Alaska and United Airlines Discover Loose Parts on 737-9 Max Amid Inspections After Recent Incident

Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, on Monday Jan.8, disclosed findings of loose parts on their Boeing 737-9 aircraft. This revelation comes as these airlines intensified inspections of their grounded Boeing jets, particularly focusing on a component known as a door plug. The scrutiny follows an incident where a door plug detached from an Alaska Airlines 737-9 jet shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, last week.

This incident prompted the grounding of approximately 170 planes. United and Alaska Airlines, the two primary U.S. carriers operating Boeing jets with this specific door plug configuration, have been proactive in their response.

On Monday evening, Alaska Airlines stated that it is awaiting the formal commencement of the inspection process. However, preliminary preparations by maintenance crews for these inspections have already led to the discovery of “some loose hardware visible on some aircraft.”

This ongoing situation brings additional attention to the safety and maintenance protocols of the Boeing 737-9 fleet. It also underscores the continued vigilance required by airlines to ensure the safety and reliability of their aircraft.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, npr.org