by In response to a recent incident involving an emergency exit door panel on an Alaska Airlines flight, Boeing has announced plans to increase quality inspections on its 737 Max 9 aircraft. This move comes as Boeing faces a series of manufacturing flaws that have damaged its reputation as a leading American aircraft manufacturer and led to some airlines opting for its European competitor, Airbus.
Following the grounding of the 737 Max by federal regulators, Boeing acknowledged the need for improvement in quality assurance and controls. The company’s President and CEO, Stan Deal, expressed that their team is rigorously evaluating their quality practices throughout their manufacturing facilities and production system. Additionally, Boeing will involve airline customers and independent inspectors to review the aircraft as necessary.
The incident on the Alaska Airlines flight involved the blowout of one of the two door plugs on a 737 Max 9 shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon. This caused a hole in the plane, resulting in a loss of cabin pressure and prompting an emergency descent and return to Portland. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries reported.
Subsequently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced its intentions to investigate whether Boeing failed to ensure the safety and compliance of the fuselage panel that detached from the aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also conducting an investigation, focusing on the plugs used to fill extra door spots on the Boeing 737 Max 9.
This incident adds to a series of mishaps for Boeing that began in 2018 with the crashes of two Max 8 planes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, resulting in a total of 346 fatalities. Following these crashes, Max 8 and Max 9 planes were globally grounded for nearly two years. Since then, various manufacturing flaws have caused delays in the delivery of Max jets and the larger 787 Boeing plane. As recently as last month, Boeing requested airlines to inspect their Max jets for a loose bolt in the rudder-control system.
With these ongoing challenges, Boeing is committed to revamping its quality inspections and addressing the manufacturing flaws that have plagued its aircraft. By doing so, the company seeks to restore confidence among airline customers and regain its position in the aviation industry.
