Alaska Airlines said it has found additional “loose fittings” on some of its grounded Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes following last week's midair explosion. It comes after United Airlines revealed it needed to tighten bolts on several of its planes.
in A statement released Monday night, Alaska Airlines said initial reports from its technicians “indicate loose hardware on some aircraft.”
The airline added that all aircraft were “thoroughly inspected in accordance with detailed instructions provided by the government.” [Federal Aviation Administration] We are currently in discussions with Boeing. ”
The airline is awaiting final documentation from Boeing and the FAA, which on Saturday suspended 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft from service before formal inspections begin.
Also Monday, United Airlines announced that a preliminary inspection found a bolt that needed to be tightened on the type of door plug that blew off Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 shortly after takeoff from Portland International Airport last Friday.
United Airlines found nearly 10 planes with loose bolts during preliminary inspections, officials said, up from an initial five first reported by industry publication Air Current.
There is still an ongoing battle between Boeing, the FAA and airlines that use MAX 9 aircraft over testing guidelines.
Sources said Boeing plans to change the guidelines it submitted to airlines early Monday, and the FAA must agree to the new guidelines before airlines can begin repairs.
“We are committed to ensuring that all Boeing aircraft meet design specifications and the highest safety and quality standards,” the aircraft manufacturer said. “We regret the impact this has had on our customers and their passengers.”
If the final process is given the green light by the FAA, testing is expected to take several days, forcing the cancellation of numerous flights.
The FAA said 171 MAX 9 jetliners with the same fuselage panels that were blown away were “until pilots complete enhanced inspections, including exit plugs, door components, and fasteners on both left and right cabin doors. “It will remain out of the sky,'' he said.
On Friday, an Alaska Airlines flight from Portland, Oregon, made a dramatic emergency landing after a large panel was sucked out of the plane along with some passengers' belongings at 16,000 feet, leaving a large rectangular hole in the fuselage. I was forced to. .
The door plug was discovered in a backyard by a Portland science teacher on Sunday.
with post wire
