U.S. probe agency faults Boeing, FAA in 737 MAX door plug blowout

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that multiple systemic failures caused a mid-air door panel to blow off a Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet last year. The investigation found that Boeing did not provide adequate training, guidance, or oversight to its factory workers, leading to four bolts securing the door panel being missing during production. The incident occurred shortly after the plane, operated by Alaska Airlines, took off from Portland on January 5, forcing an emergency landing with no injuries. The NTSB also criticized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for ineffective inspections and audits. While both Boeing and the FAA have since improved their training and inspection processes, the NTSB stressed the need for better risk identification to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Credit: CGTN