The recent incident involving a door that blew off a Boeing 737 Max airplane during an Alaska Airlines flight has raised concerns about the safety of these aircraft. According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the door appeared to be missing bolts that are supposed to keep the panel secured.
The NTSB investigation revealed that four bolts meant to lock the door to the body of the plane were removed by Boeing to fix another issue, but they were not replaced. It is unclear who removed the bolts, as the report does not specify. However, the safety board believes that at least three, and possibly all four, bolts were never reinstalled after the rivet repair.
The NTSB further stated that the bolts were removed at a Boeing factory when the door was opened as part of a repair on damaged rivets on the plane’s fuselage. The report also mentioned that there is no evidence to suggest that the door was opened again before the 737 Max was delivered to Alaska Airlines in October.
This incident raises questions about the quality control and maintenance practices at Boeing. The fact that bolts were not replaced after being removed for repairs is a serious oversight that could have had disastrous consequences. It also highlights the importance of thorough inspections and adherence to safety protocols in the aviation industry.
Boeing’s 737 Max planes were previously grounded as airlines checked the bolts on the doors. After the necessary inspections and repairs were carried out, the aircraft was recently given the green light to resume operations. However, some critics argue that it may be too soon to declare the planes safe, considering the recent incident and the troubled history of the 737 Max, which was involved in two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.
The NTSB is still investigating the door incident to determine the exact cause and any potential contributing factors. It is crucial that the findings of this investigation are made public to ensure transparency and accountability in the aviation industry.
Passenger safety should always be the top priority in the design, manufacturing, and maintenance of aircraft. Incidents like the one involving the Boeing 737 Max door remind us of the importance of rigorous safety protocols and thorough inspections. It is essential for both manufacturers and regulatory bodies to continuously evaluate and improve safety measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
