- Written by Theo Leggett
- BBC News Business Correspondent
image source, National Transportation Safety Board
Safety commission investigators inspect the broken panel two days after the January incident
A door that blew off a Boeing 737 Max shortly after takeoff may not have been properly secured, a new report says.
The National Transportation Safety Board has released initial results of its investigation into the Alaska Airlines passenger plane crash in January.
Four key bolts used to secure the unused door to the aircraft appeared to be missing.
The incident occurred minutes after Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 took off.
This involved panels covering unused emergency exits known as door plugs. It suddenly blew away, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the fuselage, the main body of the plane.
The report said it appears that a bolt was missing, causing the door panel to slip out of place and separate from the aircraft.
This happened just after the plane took off from Portland International Airport.
The airplane then experienced a rapid loss of cabin pressure as the air rushed out and the atmosphere inside the cabin became equal to the thin air outside.
image source, National Transportation Safety Board
The door plugs were manufactured by Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems and were originally installed on the aircraft before being delivered to the aerospace giant.
According to preliminary reports, the door plug was damaged during the manufacturing process and has since been removed at the factory.
Photographic evidence suggests that at least three of the four retaining bolts were not returned to position when the plug was reinstalled.
Spirit AeroSystems said it remains focused on working closely with Boeing and regulators to “continuously improve our processes and meet the highest standards of safety, quality and reliability.” .
The door plug and its hinge were damaged, and the absence of damage where the bolt should have been suggests the bolt was missing before the door was removed from its normal position, the report said.
The findings are likely to be jarring for Boeing, which has already faced harsh criticism over its corporate culture and quality-control processes.
Inspections have already revealed loose bolts and fasteners on other planes with the same specs, raising questions about how they were built.
Prior to the Alaska Airlines incident, other serious problems had occurred on the 737 Max production line, including manufacturing defects affecting key parts of the aircraft and damage to the center fuel tank from a lightning strike. The parts that protect the were discovered.
Due to the 737 Max's own history, scrutiny will be even more intense.
The plane, a new version of Boeing's decades-old flagship, was involved in two major crashes in late 2018 and early 2019 that killed 346 people.
These crashes were caused by improperly designed flight control software, forcing both planes into catastrophic dives that the pilots were unable to prevent.
In the aftermath, Boeing faced accusations from lawmakers and safety activists that it prioritized profits over passenger safety.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Mike Whitaker testified before U.S. lawmakers today, saying that inspections of the 737 Max aircraft found “Boeing's quality system problems are unacceptable and require further scrutiny.'' It has been shown that there is.
He promised to install more “boots” at Boeing factories to increase oversight of the company.
He added that Boeing will be held responsible for any future failures or refusal to comply with the FAA.
Last month, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun told the company's staff that “all procedures, inspections, and preparatory measures necessary for all incoming aircraft to arrive at Boeing are in place.'' We will cooperate with law enforcement and regulatory authorities to ensure that the In fact, the skies are safe and this event will never happen again. ”
