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A door panel that flew off a Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet mid-flight on January 5 appeared to be missing four key bolts, according to a preliminary report from US investigators that provided the first official look into how the frightening mishap took shape.
Lawmakers and the flying public are desperate for answers to what caused the panel to rip off a brand-new Alaska Airlines-operated jet, in what has turned into a full-blown safety and reputational crisis for Boeing.
Photo evidence released on Tuesday shows bolts were missing from the door plug, which had been removed to fix rivets that were damaged in the production process, according to the independent US National Transportation Safety Board report.
“The investigation continues to determine what manufacturing documents were used to authorise the opening and closing” of the plug during the rivet rework,” the report said.
The US Federal Aviation Administration grounded 171 of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes after the incident, most operated by US carriers United Airlines and Alaska Airlines , for inspections. Those planes were cleared to return to service in late January.
Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun said yesterday: “Whatever final conclusions are reached, Boeing is accountable for what happened. An event like this must not happen on an airplane that leaves our factory.”
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