SEATTLE - Alaska Airlines has suspended operations of its Boeing 737-9 MAX fleet until Saturday, following an in-flight incident on Sunday, December 5, 2023 (UTC), that led to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) order for a nationwide grounding. A door panel separated from Flight 1282 en route to Ontario, California, causing cabin depressurization and terror among passengers. The incident occurred at approximately 16:00 PT (00:00 UTC) when the aircraft experienced decompression at an altitude of about 16,000 feet, leading to an emergency landing at Portland International Airport.
Alaska Airlines confronted Boeing over a serious cabin panel defect after the MAX 9 jet developed a gaping hole mid-flight. The plane had been operational for only eight weeks before the incident. Following discussions between Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and FAA Administrator Whitaker on Wednesday, stringent quality checks are being implemented at both Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE:SPR).
In response to the incident and the FAA's directive, Alaska Airlines has canceled up to a fifth of their daily flights originating from Portland International Airport for five consecutive days. The airline is actively informing affected passengers and has introduced a flexible travel policy to facilitate rebooking for those impacted by the cancellations.
The FAA launched an investigation into Boeing's compliance with safety regulations after the emergency landing was triggered by a cabin panel detaching from an Alaska Airlines' 737 MAX 9. As a result of this investigation, a total of 171 jets with identical panels have been grounded for inspections. This primarily affects Alaska Airlines and United Airlines' operations, leading to significant cancellations by United Airlines on Thursday.
This issue is not unique to Alaska Airlines; United Airlines has also experienced similar maintenance challenges with its Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. The grounding and flight cancellations represent a precautionary measure as both airlines work to ensure the safety and integrity of their fleets.
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) by passengers over improper manufacturing practices. The lawsuit was made through Stritmatter Firm's Daniel Laurence and alleges economic harm and severe emotional distress caused by the in-flight emergency. Passengers are demanding compensation for economic losses and physical injuries like bruises and internal ear bleeding inflicted by rapid depressurization. Allegations further include malfunctioning oxygen masks during the depressurization event, which intensified passenger fears of not surviving. Some passengers suffered extensive injuries including concussions and seizures triggered by stress.
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun publicly took responsibility for this mistake during an internal company meeting at Renton headquarters on Tuesday. He referred to the issue as a "quality escape". Investigations by both FAA and NTSB are ongoing regarding how the door plug detached and if there were lapses in ensuring jet safety standards by Boeing.
The detached door plug, weighing 63 pounds, was retrieved near Portland; it's scheduled for analysis at NTSB's lab as part of their investigation into this serious incident affecting both passengers' safety and Boeing's aircraft credibility. The NTSB released a photo on Monday showing substantial damage from Flight 1282.
Post-incident investigations led to a shares decline for Boeing by 1.6% on Thursday. Carriers conducting preliminary checks found loose parts on multiple aircraft, casting doubt on Boeing’s manufacturing processes. Amidst these quality concerns, the FAA reiterated that Boeing must adhere to stringent safety standards. Without committing to a timeline for lifting the grounding order, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized that ensuring safety is their utmost concern. These developments compound Boeing's difficulties in regaining industry footing since the earlier grounding of its MAX series and trailing behind Airbus in aircraft deliveries.
Passengers are encouraged to check their flight status and utilize the flexible travel options provided by Alaska Airlines during this period. Post-grounding inspections by United and Alaska Airlines revealed loose hardware on multiple Boeing planes indicating possible installation issues; FAA continues its probe into aircraft safety conformity.
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