Hey amigos! Big news in the aviation world! ✈️ Remember that scary incident back on January 5th when a door panel blew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 mid-air? 😲 Well, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) just released a preliminary report shedding light on what went wrong.
According to the NTSB, four key bolts were missing from the door panel that flew off! 🔩🔩🔩🔩 These bolts are crucial—they prevent the upward movement of the door plug. Without them, the door can't stay in place. Talk about a major oops! 😬
So, how did this happen? The door plug was initially installed by Spirit AeroSystems in Kansas. But when it got to Boeing's factory in Renton, Washington, damaged rivets were discovered. Repairs were done, but here's the kicker—the bolts weren't reinstalled afterward! 😱 Photo evidence provided to the NTSB by Boeing confirmed this oversight.
Boeing's President and CEO, Dave Calhoun, stepped up and took accountability. \"An event like this must not happen on an airplane that leaves our factory. We simply must do better for our customers and their passengers,\" he said. 🙌
Boeing is now implementing a comprehensive plan to strengthen quality control. They've ensured that all 737-9 mid-exit door plugs are installed according to specifications and are making moves to improve overall quality and stability across the 737 production system. 🛠️✨
They’re also opening their factory doors to customers for additional reviews and fully supporting investigations by the NTSB and FAA. Transparency for the win! 🏆
\"This added scrutiny—from ourselves, from our regulator, and from our customers—will make us better. It's that simple,\" Calhoun noted. 💪
Safety first, always! Let's hope these steps make flying even safer for everyone. 🛫❤️
Reference(s):
U.S. regulator says 4 missing bolts led to Boeing door incident
cgtn.com
