Alaska Airlines blowout: Crew detail 'chaos' after mid
- Alaska Airlines experienced a chaotic situation after a mid-air incident involving their Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft.
- As a result, Boeing announced it will be implementing design changes to the 737 Max 9 planes.
- This incident raises significant safety concerns for both airlines and passengers.
US transport safety officials are investigating a mid-air emergency involving a Boeing 737 Max 9, following the blowout of an unused door that led to violent cabin decompression. Thousands of pages of documents released ahead of a hearing detail the chaos experienced by the crew, with one co-pilot describing a "loud bang" and the sudden deployment of oxygen masks. The incident marks Boeing's second major crisis in recent years, raising significant safety concerns. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has expressed serious concerns regarding Boeing's safety culture. During the hearing, executives faced tough questions about the manufacturing processes and the lack of documentation related to the door plug's maintenance prior to the incident. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy emphasized the need for Boeing to improve its safety protocols, stating, "The safety culture needs a lot of work." In response to the incident, Boeing's senior vice president for quality, Elizabeth Lund, mentioned that the company is working on design changes to ensure the door plug cannot be closed unless it is securely fastened. However, the investigation has yet to determine who was responsible for the door plug's removal and reinstallation, leaving critical questions unanswered. This incident has further tarnished Boeing's reputation, leading to a two-week grounding of Max 9 planes globally, a halt on production increases, and an FBI investigation. The company recently announced a guilty plea to fraud charges related to previous crashes and reported a loss of $1.4 billion in the second quarter, alongside the appointment of Robert K 'Kelly' Ortberg as its new CEO.