Boeing missing door plug found, company faces thorough check
Boeing missing door plug found (Getty Images)
The door plug that came off an Alaska Airlines flight in Portland, Oregon, on January 5, has been found in a teacher's backyard. This incident caused an emergency landing of the Boeing 737-9 Max plane and some passengers and a flight attendant got minor injuries, according to The Washington Post and NBC News.
The incident occurred during Flight 1282 from Portland to Ontario, California. The door plug, usually sealed off, separated from the plane midair, causing a loud noise and letting in freezing winds. The cockpit door opened, hitting a bathroom door and affecting the first officer. The communication between the crew and passengers was challenging.
The missing door plug on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 (Reuters)
Before the incident, the plane's auto-pressurization fail light had lit up on three earlier flights. This light is supposed to warn about issues with controlling cabin pressure. The airline did tests and maintenance after the reports on December 7, January 3, and January 4. The plane was not allowed to fly to Hawaii in case of an emergency, but a request for a closer inspection was not fulfilled.
The plane's interior suffered damage, but it was not critical to the aircraft's structure. Some passengers and a flight attendant got minor injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating, but communication records from the cockpit recorder were lost.
After the talk about the investigation, Jennifer Homendy, who leads the NTSB, shared some good news. "I'm excited to announce that we found the door plug," she said and thanked Bob, a schoolteacher who sent pictures of it to the NTSB.
Consequences for Boeing company
This incident has raised concerns about Boeing's safety after a challenging year for the company. Videos from passengers showing the incident went viral. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded similar Boeing planes for inspection.
Moreover, the incident caused a stir in the market, leading to a drop of approximately 8% in the company's stock during premarket trading.
