© 2024 KMUW
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

NTSB says key bolts were missing from the door plug that blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9

By Joel Rose,
Russell Lewis
Published February 6, 2024 at 2:11 PM CST
An Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 that made an emergency landing at Portland International Airport on Jan. 5 is parked in Portland, Ore., on Jan. 23. A door plug blew out shortly after the plane took off from Portland. There were no serious injuries, but it has renewed concerns about Boeing and production lapses.
Patrick T. Fallon
/
AFP via Getty Images
An Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 that made an emergency landing at Portland International Airport on Jan. 5 is parked in Portland, Ore., on Jan. 23. A door plug blew out shortly after the plane took off from Portland. There were no serious injuries, but it has renewed concerns about Boeing and production lapses.

According to preliminary investigation findings released by NTSB investigators on Tuesday, four key bolts were "missing" when a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 in midair last month.

Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Michael Whitaker testifies before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images
/
Getty Images
Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Michael Whitaker testifies before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

Copyright 2024 NPR
Joel Rose
Joel Rose is a correspondent on NPR's National Desk. He covers immigration and breaking news.
See stories by Joel Rose
Russell Lewis
As NPR's Southern Bureau chief, Russell Lewis covers issues and people of the Southeast for NPR — from Florida to Virginia to Texas, including West Virginia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma. His work brings context and dimension to issues ranging from immigration, transportation, and oil and gas drilling for NPR listeners across the nation and around the world.
See stories by Russell Lewis