The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, writes that the door that fell from an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 in early January was most likely not secured with bolts. Boeing and industry sources believe assembly plant workers did not return the bolts when reattaching the escape hatch to the fuselage of the plane.
Following the incident on January 5, which resulted in passenger cabin depressurization and an emergency landing, the US Civil Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded 171 737 MAX 9 aircraft for emergency inspections. There were 171 passengers and six crew members on board at the time of the emergency; no one was injured.
Alaska Airlines was the first suspended Operation of all 65 Boeing 737 MAX 9s.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting a metallurgical analysis of the removed door to determine whether the bolts are still in place or missing. Laboratory test results are expected to be announced this week.
Previously reportedthat birds hit Russian planes more often.