ALBAWABA- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed in a preliminary report that four bolts crucial for securing the door plug on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 were missing before the plug blew off during a flight last month, as reported by ABC News.
According to Boeing records reviewed by the NTSB, damaged rivets were replaced by Spirit AeroSystems employees in September 2023, requiring the removal of specific bolts.
However, photo evidence obtained from Boeing indicated that the plug was closed with no bolts in visible locations, with one bolt area obscured by insulation.
After examining the recovered plug, the NTSB concluded that the missing bolts allowed the plug to detach after takeoff from Portland International Airport on Jan. 5.
Despite the incident, the plane made a safe emergency landing with no serious injuries. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded approximately 171 Max 9s worldwide, with Alaska Airlines resuming flights following fleet inspections on Jan. 26.
