“Boeing 737 Max 9: United Airlines Discovers Loose Bolts During Jet Inspections”

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"Boeing 737 Max 9: United Airlines Discovers Loose Bolts During Jet Inspections"

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EN FRANCAIS!

United Airlines has reported finding bolts in need of “additional tightening” during inspections of Boeing 737 Max 9s. The airline stated that “installation issues” related to door plugs would be addressed before the aircraft type is cleared for service. These inspections were initiated after a section of the fuselage fell from an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 last Friday. Alaska Airlines has also discovered “some loose hardware” on some Max 9s.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded 171 planes of the same type. United Airlines stated, “Since we began preliminary inspections on Saturday, we have found instances that appear to relate to installation issues in the door plug – for example, bolts that needed additional tightening.”

The door plug, which contains a window, fills the space where an emergency exit would be in certain configurations. This part of the Alaska Airlines plane detached mid-flight over Oregon, landing in a teacher’s backyard. Although the aircraft made an emergency landing, there were no serious injuries to passengers or crew.

The National Transportation Safety Board reported that the plane’s door plug, recovered from the teacher’s backyard, was missing four bolts. Chair Jennifer Homendy stated that the bolts might have been missing from the beginning or could have come off during the descent.