NTSB Identifies Part That Failed on 737 Max 9

With the door plug recovered, the team is heading back to Washington, D.C.

Tuesday, January 09, 2024 at 05:00 PM ET

Verified

In wrapping up the Portland, Oregon, investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board identified what part failed but doesn’t know why. [Courtesy: NTSB]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB is investigating an explosive decompression on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 caused by a door plug blowing out shortly after takeoff.
No serious injuries occurred, and the missing door plug was recovered from a Portland teacher's backyard.
Preliminary findings indicate the door plug moved upward, disengaging its stops, and investigators are probing the role of potentially missing stop bolts and prior cabin pressurization warnings.
The global Boeing 737 Max 9 fleet is currently grounded pending the ongoing investigation and development of new inspection protocols.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is wrapping up its on-site investigation into the explosive decompression of a Boeing 737 Max 9 over Portland, Oregon.

On Monday, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy thanked the public and local law enforcement for helping find the door plug that flew off Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 shortly after takeoff from Runway 28L on Friday. The aircraft made an emergency landing at Portland International Airport (KPDX).