Alaska Airlines MAX9-incident prompts groundings

On 5 January 2024, Alaska Airlines Boeing B737-9 N704AL (67501), operating flight AS1282 from Portland (OR) to Ontario (CA), suffered from rapid decompression after a part of the left hand fuselage was blown-out. The aircraft landed safely back at Portland, twenty minutes after take-off and no one on board was hurt.

The part that was blown-out was a so-called plug that is fitted in the place of an emergency door. Some airlines that aren't operating the MAX9 to full capacity, have swapped the emergency door with a plug to save weight and optimize cabin lay-out.

Due to the incident, the FAA has issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) on 6 January 2024, prompting the grounding and inspection of all MAX9s with such a plug. Worldwide it affects 171 aircraft. Large users of the MAX9 like Alaska Airlines with 65 aircraft, and United Airlines with 79 aircraft have been heavily impacted by the EAD. Each inspection takes four to eight hours per aircraft before it can return to service.

The MAX9 involved is a fairly new aircraft, having been delivered on 31 October 2023. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting an investigation into the incident.

Photo via Twitter.