Boeing Subcontractor Scrutinized Over Door Plug Failure

Employees of Spirit AeroSystems allege poor quality control in legal filing.

Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 12:18 AM ET

Verified

The door plug on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 blew off as the aircraft climbed through 16,000 feet. [Courtesy: NTSB]

Key Takeaways:

Litigation filed against Boeing subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems by former employees alleges that concerns about "sustained quality failures" and "excessive defects" were ignored, preceding the mid-air door plug detachment on an Alaska Airlines 737-9 Max.
Following the incident, the FAA grounded all 737-9 Max aircraft for inspection, leading to reports of loose bolts on other planes, while the NTSB investigates if missing door plug retention bolts or prior cabin pressurization warnings are connected to the failure.
Both Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems have pledged full cooperation with the NTSB investigation, with Boeing's CEO expressing deep concern and emphasizing the critical importance of safety and restoring customer confidence.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Litigation filed against a Boeing subcontractor is the latest wrinkle in the investigation of the Boeing 737-9 Max 9 that lost a door plug in mid-flight, resulting in cabin depressurization and an emergency landing. Spirit AeroSystems is facing a class action lawsuit filed in federal court in December by former employees who allege the Wichita, Kansas-based manufacturer didn’t listen when they raised concerns about product quality.

According to the investigative publication The Lever, the complaint was filed on December 19 in federal court in New York state on behalf of investors in Spirit AeroSystems. The complaint alleges that employees of the aerostructure manufacturer repeatedly warned corporate officials about “sustained quality failures” and “excessive amounts of defects,” but their concerns were ignored.