The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recommended visual inspections for Boeing 737-900ER aircraft due to their similarities with the model involved in a mid-air emergency on an Alaska Airlines flight on January 5, 2024.
These inspections should primarily concentrate on “mid-exit door plugs,” as specified by the FAA in a statement. This is the same type of panel that became detached during the incident on Alaska Airlines flight 1282.
The Boeing 737-900ER is utilised by Alaska, Delta, and several international airlines. Although older than the 737 Max 9 involved in the Alaska flight incident, it shares the same door plug design, according to the FAA.
It is essential to emphasise that there is currently no evidence suggesting any issues or defects with the mid-exit door plugs on the 737-900ER, as highlighted by the FAA. This particular model has accumulated 11 million hours of operation.
The FAA also noted that operators had previously conducted extra inspections of the 737-900ER following the emergency on Alaska Airlines. The recent announcement underscores the necessity for operators to ensure that the door plugs are securely fastened, adding an extra layer of safety.
