The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded that there were multiple systemic failures that led to the midair blowout of a door plug panel during the flight of a Boeing 737 Max jet last year. The board’s investigation found fault with both Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
According to NTSB investigators, the door plug panel was reinstalled without replacing four key bolts that were supposed to hold it in place. One of those bolts could have prevented the blowout during Alaska Airlines Flight 1282.
Boeing has no record of who was responsible for removing and reinstalling the door plug, which points to bigger problems with the company’s safety protocols. Investigators found that Boeing relied on workers with little formal training to carry out tasks, including the installation of the door plug panel.
The incident sparked a crisis at Boeing, leading to changes in management and new safety protocols. The FAA has increased oversight of the factory where Boeing builds the 737 Max jets and temporarily capped production there at 38 planes per month.
While no one was killed or seriously injured during the Alaska Airlines flight, the NTSB praises the crew for safely returning the plane to the gate. Board chair Jennifer Homendy described the incident as “nothing short of a miracle that no one died.” The investigation highlights systemic safety deficiencies at Boeing and the FAA, which the board says should have been addressed before the incident occurred.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/06/24/nx-s1-5442564/ntsb-boeing-737-max-door-plug-alaska-airlines