United Airlines has reported the discovery of loose bolts on plug doors of multiple 737 Max 9 aircraft during inspections. This revelation comes in the wake of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) decision to keep all 171 Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft grounded. The FAA’s move follows an incident where a window and a section of fuselage blew out of an Alaska Airlines 737-9 Max in mid-air.
According to industry publication Air Current, United Airlines found loose bolts on various parts of at least five panels during inspections conducted in the aftermath of the recent incident.
In a statement, United Airlines revealed, “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 airline, which has 79 737-9 aircraft in its fleet, asserted that the identified issues would be rectified to ensure the safe return of the aircraft to service.
Alaska Airlines, in response to the incident, canceled 141 scheduled flights on Monday. Boeing expressed its commitment to meeting design specifications and the highest safety standards, expressing regret for the impact of the incident on passengers. The Alaska Airlines flight, which experienced a door plug detachment causing depressurization, prompted pilots to return after taking off from Portland, Oregon.
