The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a series of documents in preparation for a two-day hearing into a mid-air emergency involving a Boeing 737 MAX 9 operated by Alaska Airlines in January. The incident, which occurred shortly after takeoff, saw a door plug blow out from the fuselage, causing a rapid decompression and forcing the plane to make an emergency landing.
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The documents released by the NTSB include transcripts of interviews with key witnesses, including Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems executives, as well as NTSB investigators. They also include photographs and diagrams of the damaged aircraft, as well as an analysis of the accident sequence. According to the documents, the incident was caused by a series of errors and oversights. Four bolts that helped secure the panel were not replaced after a repair job in a Boeing factory, but the work was not documented, according to the NTSB. The pilots quickly landed the aircraft back in Portland, Oregon, and the door plug was later found in a backyard in Cedar Hills, Oregon.
The NTSB hearing, which began on Tuesday, is expected to last two days and will include testimony from Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The hearing will focus on key issues, including 737 manufacturing and inspections, safety management and quality management systems, FAA oversight, and issues surrounding the opening and closing of the door plug. The incident has had far-reaching consequences for Boeing. The company has faced a criminal investigation and the departure of several key executives. Boeing has also agreed to a plea deal with the US Department of Justice over the 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, and it has been working to improve its quality control and safety procedures.
In addition to the NTSB hearing, Boeing has also announced plans to make design changes to its 737 MAX 9 aircraft to prevent future door panel blowouts. The company is working on design changes that will ensure the door plugs cannot be closed if there is any issue until it is firmly secured. Boeing hopes to implement these changes within the year and then retrofit them across the fleet. The NTSB hearing and the Boeing design changes are part of a broader effort to improve the safety and reliability of the 737 MAX 9 aircraft. The incident has highlighted the importance of quality control and safety procedures, and Boeing is taking steps to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.