After United Airlines, Alaska Airlines has confirmed the finding of loose hardware during the preparation part of the inspection. However Alaska says, they are waiting for the approval from Boeing and FAA for an operators’ inspection processes to ensure compliance (called an Alternate Methods of Compliance, or AMOC).
Boeing is in trouble again involving its narrow body best seller as the latest B737 MAX crisis could be concluded as a quality issue with company's manufacturing process.
After United Airlines raised the flags of loose bolts, Alaska Airlines now says that they had found loose parts on multiple grounded MAX 9 aircraft, raising new concerns among industry experts about how Seattle based company's best-selling jet family is being manufactured.
Source :NTSB
Alaska Airlines said in its "Information about Alaska Airlines Flight 1282" release,
We continue to wait for final documentation from Boeing and the FAA before we can begin the formal inspection process.
As our maintenance technicians began preparing our 737-9 MAX fleet for inspections, they accessed the area in question. Initial reports from our technicians indicate some loose hardware was visible on some aircraft.
NTSB has revealed that it has recovered the door responsible for temporary grounding of Boeing B737MAX9 fleet. Investigators are currently examining the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 (N704AL) door plug and will send it to the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington,DC for further examination.
Alaska Airlines that's suffering from the fleet grounding after Plugged Panel (door) fell off incident, said that though Boeing has issued multi-operator message, they need further approval and instructions, before their technicians complete the inspection process. The company said,
This morning, Boeing issued a multi-operator message (MOM) which provided inspection details for the 737-9 MAX aircraft, which have been approved by the FAA. Two additional steps must occur before inspections can begin:
As per Alaska Airlines ,
When we are able to proceed with the formal inspection process, all aircraft will be thoroughly inspected in accordance with detailed instructions provided by the FAA in consultation with Boeing. Any findings will be fully addressed in a matter that satisfies our safety standards and FAA compliance.
The formal inspections will also require documenting all findings and those will be reported to the FAA. No aircraft will be returned to service until all of these steps are complete. The safety of these aircraft is our priority and we will take the time and steps necessary to ensure their airworthiness, in close partnership with the FAA.
Worth noting, Alaska Airlines has phased out all of its Airbus fleet to become an All -Boeing operator. On 30 September 2023, when Alaska Airlines conducted a flight using an Airbus A321neo aircraft , that operated flight AS1126 from Seattle (WA) to Los Angeles (CA), it was the last Airbus flight by the SeaTac based carrier, making a Pro Boeing statement.
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The carrier also said that , they have prepared each aircraft to be inspection ready,
As we await further information from the FAA and work through these important steps, our technicians have prepared each aircraft to be immediately ready for the required inspection when instructions are finalized.
We recognize that additional questions remain about the details surrounding Flight 1282 that we are unable to address at this time. Because this is an active investigation, we must receive permission from the NTSB to provide information about the aircraft and its prior maintenance. We will provide information as soon as the NTSB permits us to do so.
As these steps remain pending, we continue to experience disruption to our operation with these aircraft out of service. As of 8:30 a.m. Pacific, we have cancelled roughly 140 flights for Monday due to the 737-9 MAX grounding.
In addition to the multi-operator message (MOM) , David Calhoun, President & CEO of the Boeing Company has called an all-employee safety meeting through a company wide webcast due to its MAX9 mid-air fuselage Panel/deactivated emergency Door missing.
Carriers like Aeromexico have already confirmed that they will keep its B737 MAX-9 aircraft on the ground until they pass inspection. The industry wise buzz is getting the due share of amplification as the aircraft model involved is a B737MAX, which has been in news and scrutiny for last four years due to infamous accidents involving MCAS computers, and few other such findings.
About the recent incident, the Oct 2023 delivered Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 plane (N704AL) flying as AS1282, had experienced a rapid decompression after the loss of a fuselage panel including an emergency exit door on the left side of the plane.
In another news development, Sources told Reuters that Aerospace supplier Spirit AeroSystems manufactured and initially installed the fuselage part on a brand-new Boeing 737 Max 9 jet that suffered a plugged door (panel) PDA on Friday, but Boeing also has a key role in the usual completion process.
Because of a complex, two-tier installation process, investigators are expected to examine whether any flaws occurred at Spirit’s giant fuselage plant in Wichita, Kansas, or at the Boeing factory outside Seattle, the sources added.
Alaska Airlines News....
