Portland, Oregon – A missing door plug that could be crucial to the investigation into the midflight detachment of a plane’s door has been discovered in the backyard of a resident, officials confirmed on Sunday. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy announced the finding of the door plug during a news conference on the status of the probe. She expressed gratitude to the resident, identified only as Bob, a schoolteacher, who sent two photos of the item to the NTSB. Homendy stated that the plug would be analyzed to aid in understanding the cause of the incident.
In addition to the door plug, two cell phones have also been recovered—one from a yard and the other on the side of the road, according to Homendy. These discoveries mark significant progress in the investigation into the accident aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. At the end of the initial NTSB investigation, Homendy highlighted complications: the cockpit voice recorder’s record was unintentionally overwritten, and the door plug had not yet been located. The loss of voice data proved frustrating as it is crucial not only to the investigation itself but also for improving aviation safety.
To prevent future incidents, Homendy called for an extension of the minimum recording time on devices from two hours to 25 hours. This change would have preserved the cockpit voice data from the accident on Friday. The unaffected device automatically recorded over the relevant voice data due to a failure to power it down, wiping out the previous recording every two hours. Homendy stressed the importance of resolving this issue for the sake of safety.
The chaos and communication issues experienced by the flight crew were also highlighted during the news conference. The Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft encountered rapid cabin depressurization, causing crew members to hear a loud noise. The first officer lost her headset, while the captain also experienced headset problems. As a result, the crew resorted to using a speaker for communication. Additionally, during the explosive decompression, the cockpit door violently swung open and a laminated checklist was expelled from the plane. The actions of the flight crew were commended for their response to the intense situation.
Inside the aircraft, significant damage was observed. Several seats, unoccupied at the time, were subjected to such force that their frames were twisted. Damage was found in 12 rows of seats. Homendy expressed concerns about three infants who were being held in the laps of their caregivers, as it is recommended, though not mandatory, for young children to occupy separate, ticketed seats secured with car seats.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded some Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes, similar to the one involved in the Alaska Airlines incident, and issued a directive mandating inspections before certain aircraft can resume flying. This directive affects 171 planes globally. Boeing and the FAA are working together to finalize the inspection process and obtain FAA approval. The investigation will now focus on analyzing the door plug, its fastening methods, and potential failures. The structural integrity of the aircraft remains intact.
In conclusion, the discovery of the missing door plug and subsequent findings mark significant progress in the investigation into the detachment of the plane’s door midflight. The NTSB continues to analyze crucial evidence, including the door plug and cell phones recovered from the scene. The investigation also sheds light on communication challenges faced by the flight crew during the incident. Steps are being taken to extend recording times on devices to improve aviation safety. Ultimately, the focus is on understanding the cause of the incident and implementing measures to prevent similar accidents in the future.