Safety Concerns Grow as Loose Bolts Found in United Airlines’ Boeing 737 Max 9 Jets

In a recent development that has raised serious safety concerns, United Airlines has discovered loose bolts in the panels of its Boeing 737 Max 9 jets, mirroring the issue faced by Alaska Airlines’ plane that experienced a blowout during a flight. The incident has prompted a comprehensive inspection of nearly 200 aircraft, causing widespread flight cancellations and disruptions for passengers. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is actively investigating the matter, focusing on the installation and inspection of a specific part, known as a door plug, raising questions about the manufacturing process and potential contributing factors.

What has happened?

The alarming incident occurred when a door plug on an Alaska Airlines plane dislodged, resulting in a sudden drop in cabin pressure about 10 minutes after takeoff from Portland, Oregon. Passengers onboard were subjected to howling winds as personal items, including phones and toys, were swept out of the plane through the hole. The pilots promptly returned to the airport, avoiding more severe consequences. Although no serious injuries were reported, the incident has triggered significant safety concerns, leading to the grounding of nearly 200 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes operated by various airlines, including Alaska Airlines and United.

United Airlines made the unsettling discovery of loose bolts in the panels, known as plugs, while inspecting its Boeing 737 Max 9 jets over the weekend. The airline initiated the inspection by removing seats and sidewall liners to assess the part, finding similarities to the incident involving the Alaska Airlines plane. The loose bolts were located in the vicinity of emergency exit doors, raising questions about the structural integrity and safety of these aircraft.

Reports have emerged indicating that Alaska Airlines had received three warnings about cabin pressure problems on its plane before the incident. These warnings prompted the airline to decide that the affected aircraft was no longer suitable for flights to destinations like Hawaii. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued instructions for inspections, but both Alaska and United are awaiting additional approval from the FAA before commencing the inspections. The grounding of nearly 200 Max 9 planes has resulted in widespread flight cancellations and disruptions for passengers, with potential long-term implications for the affected airlines.

Ongoing investigation

The NTSB, spearheading the investigation, is concentrating on several key aspects, including the installation and inspection of the door plug that malfunctioned in the Alaska Airlines incident. The initial installation of the door was carried out by Spirit AeroSystems, the manufacturer responsible for producing the body of the 737 Max and other aircraft. Investigators are scrutinizing whether any work near the door was conducted since the aircraft entered service in November. Additionally, the NTSB will inspect the recovered door plug and analyze its intact counterpart, interview flight crews and passengers, review maintenance records and repair logs, and conduct laboratory analyses of relevant parts.

The investigation may also explore the installation of wireless internet equipment on the plane by a contractor, AAR, between November 27 and December 7. The timing of pressurization problems emerging after this installation raises questions about whether the work carried out by AAR played any part in the incident. However, AAR has asserted that it did not perform any work on or near the midcabin exit door plug of the specific aircraft involved in the incident.

No Damage done, but it could have been Serious

While no serious injuries were reported in the incident, experts have emphasized that the consequences could have been far more catastrophic, especially if the plane had been at a higher altitude. The blowout at a cruising altitude of over 30,000 feet could have led to more extensive structural damage, potentially causing passengers who weren’t properly secured to be blown out of the aircraft. The investigation aims to understand the specific factors that contributed to the door plug malfunction and the subsequent drop in cabin pressure.

Aviation experts, including Jennifer Homendy, the chairwoman of the NTSB, have highlighted the severity of the incident and the need for a thorough investigation. Kathleen Bangs, an aviation expert and former airline pilot, has suggested that the investigation is likely to reveal a failure of the door plug, given the condition of the relatively new aircraft. Anthony Brickhouse, a professor of aerospace safety, emphasized the potential disastrous consequences of a blowout at cruising altitude, underscoring the importance of understanding the root cause of the malfunction.

The investigation is also examining recent incidents involving pressurization warnings on the damaged plane during three flights. Alaska Airlines workers had reset the system, allowing the plane to return to service, albeit with restrictions on flights to certain destinations. The NTSB is exploring whether these warnings are related to the blowout on Friday, and if so, what measures were taken to address the underlying pressurization issues.

The incident has had a significant impact on Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, with both companies experiencing a decline in their stock values. Boeing’s CEO, Dave Calhoun, is set to host a companywide safety meeting to discuss the company’s response to the incident and reaffirm its commitment to safety. The repercussions of this incident may have broader implications for Boeing, which is still working to secure approval for its smaller Max 7 and larger Max 10 models.

FAA’s Response and Unique Inspections for Max 9:

The FAA has responded to the incident by issuing instructions for comprehensive inspections focused on the plugs, door components, and fasteners of Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft. The required inspections are expected to take four to eight hours per plane, with nearly 200 Max 9 planes in the United States, potentially extending the grounding of these aircraft for several days. The FAA clarified that the inspections are unique to the Max 9 model and do not apply to other versions of the Max jet.

Other airlines operating Boeing 737 Max 9 planes outside the United States, such as Copa Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Icelandair, are not affected by the grounding as they have a different configuration. The European Union’s aviation safety agency has confirmed that Max 9 jets operating in Europe are not grounded. However, the incident has raised concerns globally about the safety of the Max 9 model, prompting international aviation authorities to closely monitor the situation.

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The discovery of loose bolts in United Airlines’ Boeing 737 Max 9 jets, similar to the part that malfunctioned in the Alaska Airlines incident, has triggered widespread safety concerns and led to the grounding of nearly 200 aircraft. The NTSB’s investigation is focused on the installation and inspection of the door plug, involving scrutiny of the manufacturing process and potential contributing factors.