FAA Cracking Down on Boeing after Alaska Airlines Flight Scare

The Federal Aviation Administration has taken swift action to avoid any repeat of the kind of accident that befell an Alaska Airlines flight from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California on Jan. 5.

The Boeing 737 was brand-new, yet its 60-pound door plug—an exterior panel, easily visible, that represents an unused emergency exit option—blew out just minutes into the flight. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Portland roughly 20 minutes after takeoff. “[W]e are not where we need to be,” conceded Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, in an email to employees. The door plug was later found in the backyard of a Portland-area home—definitely not where it needed to be. Luckily, the passengers and crew suffered no serious injuries.

“We are working to make sure nothing like this happens again,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a press release. “Our only concern is the safety of American travelers and the Boeing 737-9 MAX will not return to the skies until we are entirely satisfied it is safe.” To that end, the FAA has announced that some grounded Boeing 737-9 MAX airplanes will not return to service until the regulatory body approves “an extensive and rigorous inspection and maintenance process.” The FAA moved quickly to inspect 40 aircraft outfitted with plugged doors.

Though the shocking midair incident has shone a light on the travails of commercial airlines (both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have already discovered loose hardware on their Boeing 737-9 MAX jets), Boeing also has long been a major supplier of private airplanes, courtesy of its Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) sub-brand. It is the go-to manufacturer for VIPS and heads of state, having supplied Air Force One for more than 50 years (currently, the Boeing 747-200B is in service for AF1; the 747-8 is next in the queue).

Related Article

Boeing Max 9 Depressurization Emergency Prompts Grounding

“Loose bolts” is not a phrase you want to hear in connection with air travel. Here’s what we know about the manufacturer's latest troubles.

Boeing’s first private jet took flight in 1998, and since then, BBJ has been known for its bespoke approach to aircraft design. The eminently customizable BBJs—which include BBJ 737 MAX, BBJ 777, BBJ 777X, BBJ 787, and BBJ 747-8—can be configured in myriad ways, accommodating luxurious bedrooms and bathrooms, conference rooms and fitness facilities. It’s typical for high-flying owners to bring in their own interior designers to achieve true customization.

Aircraft buyers may want to consult with their completion center to ensure that the door plug is properly installed, although Boeing will surely have taken care of this problem before delivering any more BBJ Maxs.