Door That Separated From Aircraft Has Been Located

As the NTSB recovered the offending door plug that bailed out/off an Alaskan Air Boeing 737 MAX 9, the legal situation surrounding potentially affected airframes remains in flux.

NTSB investigators are currently examining the door plug from Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Boeing 737-9 MAX and will send it to the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington, DC for further examination. From a cursory exterior inspection, the door seems surprisingly intact.

The FAA has approved a method to comply with the FAA's Boeing 737-9 emergency airworthiness directive, and it has been provided to the affected operators.

The FAA is taking great pains to maintain that their 'priority is always keeping Americans safe.' In that spirit, the FAA says that Boeing 737-9 aircraft will remain grounded until operators complete enhanced inspections which include both left and right cabin door exit plugs, door components, and fasteners. Operators must also complete corrective action requirements based on findings from the inspections prior to bringing any aircraft back into service.

The FAA will continue to support the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. The NTSB is in charge of the investigation and will provide any updates.

FMI: www.regulations.gov