The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) criticized Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for their roles in a door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight. The incident occurred in January 2024, shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, when a door plug blew out at 16,000 feet, creating a dangerous situation. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries.
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy stated that the safety deficiencies should have been apparent to Boeing and the FAA. The preliminary findings revealed that four bolts needed to secure the door plug were missing when the plane was delivered to Alaska Airlines. During a hearing, Homendy praised the Alaska Airlines crew for their heroic actions in safely landing the plane, but emphasized that such heroism should not have been necessary.
The NTSB report also highlighted the FAA’s inadequate oversight and criticized its failure to require infant restraints on aircraft, a recommendation made for years. Three infants were on the flight, and one mother feared losing her child during the incident. The NTSB plans to provide safety recommendations to the FAA, although it is not obligated to adopt them.
Boeing has since replaced its CEO, with Kelly Ortberg who took over last August. Homendy acknowledged improvements made by Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems but stressed that more needs to be done. Boeing employees reported feeling pressured to work quickly, leading to mistakes. The final NTSB report on the incident is expected in a few weeks.
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