In this photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board, Investigator-in-Charge John Lovell examines the fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 in Portland, Oregon, on Jan. 7, 2024.
National Transportation Safety Board via AP
boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said Tuesday that the company recognizes “our mistake” after a door plug on a 737 Max 9 exploded in the middle of a Alaska Airlines flight, creating a huge hole in the fuselage and causing the grounding of that type of aircraft due to federal regulations.
The Federal Aviation Administration grounded the 737 Max 9 less than a day after the incident on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 so the planes could be inspected. The more common 737 Max 8 was not affected.
“When I received that photo [of the Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9]all I could think about: I didn’t know what happened [to] who was supposed to be in the seat next to that hole in the plane,” Calhoun told staff, according to comments shared by Boeing. “I have children, I have grandchildren and so do you. This matters. Every detail matters.”
On the flight there was no one sitting in 26A, which was next to the panel that exploded, saving the passengers from a possible tragedy.
But the accident raises greater scrutiny on Boeing and its chief executive. The company has struggled with a series of defects in its planes in recent years as it tried to ramp up production and improve its reputation after fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.
Alaska Airlines and united airlinesThe two largest operators of the 737 Max 9 said Monday that they have already found loose parts in the same area of other Max 9s that were subjected to inspection.
Calhoun said Tuesday that the company will work with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation and that the FAA is overseeing inspections “to ensure that every next plane that takes to the skies is safe and that this event never happens again.” happen”.
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