Portland, Oregon – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has located the plug that blew out mid-flight on an Alaska Airlines plane on Friday night. This discovery is considered crucial to the investigation into the incident. The Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon after the blowout occurred shortly after takeoff. As a result, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded all the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft until further inspections confirm their safety.
During a news conference, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy expressed the agency’s satisfaction with the finding of the plug near Portland. Homendy had earlier referred to the plug as a “key missing component” in understanding the cause of the blowout. She revealed that the same aircraft had experienced three pressurization warnings between December 7 and January 4, with at least one warning occurring during a flight. Alaska Airlines maintenance crews had checked and cleared the warning light after each incident.
Homendy described the chaotic scene in the cockpit and outside after the blowout. The force of the depressurization caused the cockpit door to open and slam into the front restroom door, damaging it. It took a flight attendant three attempts to ensure that the cockpit door closed properly again. The first officer lost her headset, and the captain had part of her headset pulled off. Both pilots resorted to using the overhead speaker for communication due to their damaged headsets.
The FAA issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive, grounding the affected Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, which impacts around 171 planes worldwide. The FAA spokesman stated that the agency’s priority is the safety of the flying public.
The investigation into the incident involves multiple parties, including the FAA, NTSB, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Airline Pilots Association, and the Association of Flight Attendants. The FBI is also assisting in locating the parts that came off during the flight. Alaska Airlines has temporarily grounded its entire Boeing 737-9 Max fleet pending inspections, resulting in significant flight cancellations.
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun announced that he would be holding a company-wide webcast focused on safety. He canceled a leadership summit and redirected efforts to support Alaska Airlines and the NTSB investigation. Investigations into the Boeing 737 Max planes have gained increased attention following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in the grounding of the planes.
In conclusion, the NTSB’s discovery of the plug that blew out mid-flight is a significant step in the investigation into the Alaska Airlines incident. The FAA has grounded the affected Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, prioritizing passenger safety. Investigations are ongoing, involving multiple organizations and agencies.