TikTok user @strawberr.vy captured a video of a large portion of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max plane taking off and then descending. (@strawberr.vy/TikTok)
Federal aviation regulators have grounded certain flights. Boeing 737 MAX9 The jet will undergo further inspection after the passenger plane made an emergency landing Friday after the left side of an Alaska Airlines flight broke off and the cabin was depressurized.
After Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 takes off portland oregon, en route to Ontario, California, while climbing at an altitude of about 16,000 feet after a panel that acts as an emergency exit door plug used on some variants of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 was torn off. The pilot immediately signaled for the plane to land and the plane returned safely to Portland with all 171 passengers and six crew members on board.
No serious injuries were reported in the incident, but the State of Alaska reported that some passengers sustained minor injuries that required medical attention, and all were treated and made a safe recovery. The airline said no one was sitting in the seat next to where the door plug blew out. Parts of the seat next to the fuselage, including the headrest, were missing.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Saturday issued a directive requiring safety inspections of 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft in service around the world. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sent the Go Team, a group of structural, operational and systems experts, to investigate the incident.
Video: Alaska Airlines passenger captures horrifying moment after parts of plane are blown into the air
Some Boeing 737 MAX 9 airliners have been grounded after a plug door blew off on an Alaska flight from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California. ((Photo by: Stephen Brasear/Getty Images) / Getty Images)
Why is there a door plug panel?
The 737 MAX 9 is Boeing's largest single-aisle aircraft, seating up to 220 people. This includes an optional additional door that allows for an approved number of evacuation routes should the airline choose to install the maximum number of seats on the aircraft.
On airplanes that are not configured to maximize seating capacity, emergency doors can be replaced with panels or plugs. Door plugs have been used for many years to adapt aircraft and provide flexible layouts throughout the industry.
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How complex is the panel manufacturing process?
The Boeing 737's fuselage is manufactured by Kansas-based Spirit Aerosystems, which was separated from Boeing in 2005. Spirit is one of his two suppliers that makes the MAX 9's plug door, but Boeing also plays a key role in the plug installation process. Reuters reported.
The installation will be a two-step process that will include manufacturing at Spirit's airframe factory in Wichita, Kansas, and at a Boeing factory outside Seattle, officials told Reuters.
Reuters reported that Spirit sent the 737 planes by train to Renton, Washington, with special door assemblies “semi-equipped” and that Boeing normally removes the pop-out doors when loading the interior. The parts will then be returned to complete the installation. The hull will then be pressurized to 150% to ensure everything is functioning properly.
United Airlines and Alaska Airlines are the major US airlines that operate the Boeing 737 MAX 9. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)
How many 737 MAX 9 planes are there?
Boeing has delivered more than 200 planes. Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, 171 of which are equipped with door plug panels instead of emergency doors. For U.S. airlines to resume flying planes, the FAA must agree to detailed inspection standards proposed by Boeing, but it was unclear whether it would do so on Sunday.
U.S. airlines using panels on their 737 MAX 9 airliners include: alaska and united. Alaska grounded 18 of its MAX 9 aircraft on Saturday. It said 163 flights, or 21%, were canceled on Sunday, and travel disruptions due to the groundings are expected to continue until at least mid-week. United Airlines on Sunday canceled 230 flights, or 8% of its scheduled departures.
| ticker | safety | last | change | change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alk | Alaska Airlines Group Co., Ltd. | 37.95 | +1.14 | +3.10% |
| UAL | United Airlines Holdings Co., Ltd. | 41.76 | +1.29 | +3.19% |
| BA | boeing company | 249.00 | +4.06 | +1.66% |
Other airlines that have grounded their planes for inspection include Panama's Copa Airlines, Aeromexico and Turkish Airlines.
what they are saying
“Safety is our top priority and we deeply regret the impact this incident has had on our customers and their passengers. We are mandating an immediate inspection of the 737-9,” Boeing said in a statement shared with FOX Business. “We agree with and fully support the FAA's decision.” “We have deployed an aircraft with the same configuration as the affected aircraft. Additionally, Boeing's technical team is supporting the NTSB in preparation for last night's event. We will continue to remain in close contact with regulators and customers. intend”
“As of this morning, inspections of more than a quarter of our 737-9 aircraft have been completed with no findings of concern. We plan to return to service soon.” we have full confidence. ”
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Alaska Airlines plans to ground its entire fleet after the rear fuselage of a Boeing 737 Max-9 jetliner exploded shortly after takeoff. (Photographer: David Ryder/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
National Transportation Safety Administration (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy called what happened “an accident, not an incident” at a press conference Sunday.
“We are very fortunate that it didn't turn into a more tragic situation,” Homendy said. “That being said, I think this was a pretty horrific event. We don't really talk about psychological damage, but I'm sure that's what happened here.”
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Homendy declined to speculate on the cause of the accident, but noted that the outcome could have been much worse had it occurred after the aircraft was in position. cruising altitude.
“Think about what happens when you're on a cruise. Everyone's up and walking, and some people aren't wearing seatbelts. They go to the bathroom. The flight attendants are serving passengers. “It could have been so much worse for us. It's so much more tragic,” she said.
Homendy also asked for help locating the missing door, saying it is believed to be on the west side of the building. portland metropolitan area near Oregon Route 217 and Burns Road outside Cedar Mills.
FOX Business' Landon Mion and Reuters contributed to this report.
