In a late-night advisory on Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) has recommended that airlines initiate visual inspections of door plugs installed on Boeing 737-900ER planes. This comes as the second Boeing model under scrutiny this month, following the grounding of the 737 Max 9 fleet.
The F.A.A. highlighted that the 737-900ER shares the same door plug design as the 737 Max 9, which faced a critical incident when a door panel was blown off shortly after an Alaska Airlines flight departed from Portland, Ore., on January 5. The subsequent emergency landing prompted the F.A.A. to ground the entire 737 Max 9 fleet.
Door plugs, serving as panels where emergency doors would be in planes with more seats, have become a focal point of investigation into Boeing’s safety measures. The F.A.A. affirmed that, to date, the door plug on the 737-900ER has not posed any problems.
“As an added layer of safety, the Federal Aviation Administration is recommending that operators of Boeing 737-900ER aircraft visually inspect mid-exit door plugs to ensure the door is properly secured,” stated the agency.
Immediate action is advised, with the F.A.A. recommending airlines to inspect the four locations securing the door plug to the airframe. The Boeing 737-900ER, with over 11 million hours of operation and about four million flight cycles, faces scrutiny to ensure comprehensive safety.
Boeing expressed its full support for the F.A.A. directive, emphasizing commitment to safety. Major carriers such as Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, which utilize the 737-900ER, have already initiated checks on their fleets. Reassuringly, none anticipate disruptions to their operations.
The recent Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 incident, though resulting in no serious injuries, has sparked serious concerns. Investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board are underway to determine the cause of the door plug expulsion, a potential catastrophe had it occurred at cruising altitude.
Simultaneously, the F.A.A. has mandated an initial round of inspections for 40 grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 planes, indicating ongoing efforts to establish final inspection protocols for these aircraft.
As the aviation industry navigates these safety challenges, the urgency for comprehensive inspections and transparent communication remains paramount.
