Why did Alaska Airlines choose to operate a Boeing aircraft that was problematic to the extent that it was restricted from flying over water or on long-haul routes? This question looms large following a recent incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight and subsequent comments from Boeing CEO David Calhoun.
At a company-wide "safety meeting," Calhoun openly acknowledged Boeing's mistake in relation to the Alaska Airlines incident. He committed to absolute transparency and cooperation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is investigating the cause of the accident. According to a report shared with CNN, he emphasized the company's dedication to understanding and rectifying the issue.
CNN learned from a Boeing insider that the fault likely originated in the aircraft's manufacturing supply chain. However, it's unclear if Calhoun pinpointed any specific flaw during his talk.
The incident in question involved an Alaska Airlines flight from Portland, Oregon. Shortly after takeoff, the flight had to make an emergency landing when a section of the wall on a new 737 Max 9 aircraft detached, creating a significant hole. Following this, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a temporary grounding order for most Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft. This decision affects about 171 planes globally.
Despite the severity of the incident, which was captured in terrifying video clips by passengers, there were no fatalities or serious injuries, although that may have just been dumb luck given that nobody was sitting in the affected seats, the door plug blew clear of the aircraft, and did not strike any person on the ground.
The FAA has called for revisions to Boeing's initial inspection plan for the door plugs on the 737 Max 9 aircraft, keeping the planes grounded until further notice.
The meeting highlighted Boeing's pledge to work closely with the NTSB to determine the exact cause of the incident. The overarching question remains: why was Alaska Airlines operating a plane with known limitations, and what implications does this have for airline safety and oversight?