Boeing Is Reworking 737 MAX Panel’s Design So It Won’t Blow Out Mid-Air Again

Photo 241682028 © Iandewarphotography | Dreamstime.com

Boeing is tightening its design screws following a hair-raising incident in January that left an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 with a blown-out cabin panel mid-flight. This event has led the plane manufacturer to announce significant design changes to prevent future mishaps and restore confidence in its aircraft.

On Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a lengthy hearing to discuss the mid-air emergency that resulted in the grounding of the MAX 9 for two weeks, a halt on production expansion by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a criminal investigation, and the exit of several key Boeing executives.

Elizabeth Lund, Boeing’s senior vice president for quality, explained then that the company is actively working on design modifications expected to be rolled out within the year and retrofitted across the entire fleet.

The investigation pinpointed missing bolts in the Alaska Airlines MAX 9 as a contributing factor to the door panel blowout.

To counter this, Boeing is developing a system that prevents the door plug from closing if any issues are detected until it is firmly secured.

Additionally, a conspicuous bright blue and yellow sign now accompanies the door plug at the factory, marked ‘Do not open’ to avoid accidental opening. The company has also introduced new procedures for handling the door plug during production.

[via Reuters, New York Times, Fast Company, cover photo 241682028 © Iandewarphotography | Dreamstime.com]