Ian Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋"Alaska Airlines flight makes emergency landing in Portland, Oregon, after window appears to have blown out after takeoff" by @CNN - 737 Max9 window & side panel blew out at 16000ft after takeoff. Safely returned to #KPDX. https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/06/us/alaska-airlines-window-landing/index.html #AS1282 #aviation #travel #avgeek
I was in Portland at the time of #AS1282. Miles away, I was unaware until later. A concern looking at the flight track is debris could have fallen on western side of Portland metro area. If not yet found, daylight may yield clues. https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/ASA1282 #aviation #travel #avgeek
"US grounds some Boeing MAX planes for safety checks" by Reuters - Similarly-configured 737 Max 9 planes (with a plug where the 200 model would have a door) temporarily grounded by FAA until each gets a safety inspection after #AS1282. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-safety-board-investigating-alaska-airlines-boeing-737-max-9-emergency-landing-2024-01-06/ #aviation #travel #avgeek
"Boeing CEO says company is "acknowledging our mistake" after Alaska Airlines door blowout" by @CBSNews - Boeing acknowledged it has responsibility for #AS1282 door plug blowout in the 2-month old 737 Max 9. Now to prevent more... https://www.cbsnews.com/news/boeing-ceo-acknowledging-our-mistake-alaska-airlines-door-plug-blowout-dave-calhoun/ #aviation #travel #avgeek
Boeing CEO says company is "acknowledging our mistake" after Alaska Airlines door blowout
The door plug of a 737 Max 9 blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight, just minutes after the plane had taken off from Portland, Oregon.
My concerns were valid about #AS1282 debris falling on Portland metro area. Based on this article in The @Oregonian, I plotted the general area on a map where the door plug was found in residential backyard. Cell phones fell nearby. https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2024/01/door-that-fell-from-alaska-airlines-flight-found-in-a-backyard-officials-say.html #aviation #travel #avgeek
"FAA recommends door plug inspections on another Boeing model after midair Alaska blowout" by @NBCNews - Older Boeing 737-900ER has same door plugs as Max9. Alaska was already inspecting out of "an abundance of caution". https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/faa-recommends-door-plug-inspections-boeing-model-midair-alaska-blowou-rcna134986 #AS1282 #aviation #travel #avgeek
"The FAA lays out a path for Boeing 737 Max 9 to fly again, but new concerns surface" by @npr - Approved inspection procedure will get existing Max 9s flying again. More reviews before Boeing can increase production rate. https://www.npr.org/2024/01/24/1226762641/faa-boeing-737-max-9-grounded-inspections-resume #AS1282 #aviation #travel #avgeek
"Portland International Airport passengers have mixed reaction to Boeing 737 MAX 9s in the air again" by @KGWNews NBC Portland - With FAA-approved inspection procedure, Alaska & United returning their 737 Max 9s to flight. https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/alaska-airlines-737-max-9-flights-portland-international-airport/283-9a11f175-1011-45f9-86fd-c0b439f4408a #AS1282 #KPDX #aviation #travel #avgeek
"Bolts appeared to be missing from Boeing 737 Max door plug that blew off midflight, NTSB says" by @CNBC / @lesliejosephs - NTSB found door plug was opened after assembly to fix rivets, and bolts weren't reinstalled https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/06/ntsb-boeing-737-max-9-report-bolts-appeared-missing-from-alaska-air-plane.html #AS1282 #aviation #travel #avgeek
It puzzles me how 737 Max9 door plug lasted until Jan 5 without bolts.🤯 That door was at risk of blowing out since 1st flight Oct 15, delivery Oct 31, entry into service Nov 11. ref @aircurrent / @jonostrower article: https://theaircurrent.com/aviation-safety/127-days-the-anatomy-of-a-boeing-quality-failure/ #AS1282 #aviation #travel #avgeek
"#Boeing 'under a microscope' following door plug blow out over Portland" by @KGWNews NBC Portland - KGW interview with US🇺🇸 Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during visit to new Portland airport terminal https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/boeing-investigation-buttigieg/283-c4c7c881-7e25-48d6-b0a7-ab8c8fb0f5d4 #737Max #AS1282 #aviation #travel #avgeek
"Boeing to develop quality, safety plan sought by FAA" by @Reuters - Boeing will report to FAA within 90 days on quality control improvements following 737 door plug blowout due to missing bolts. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/faa-tells-boeing-come-up-with-plan-90-days-fix-quality-issues-2024-02-28/ #737Max #AS1282 #aviation #travel #avgeek
"Boeing in talks to buy supplier Spirit AeroSystems, WSJ reports" by @Reuters - Anticipated for years, #737Max door plug blowout may be what forces Boeing to re-acquire Spirit Aerosystems which it spun out in 2005 https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/boeing-talks-buy-spirit-aero-wsj-reports-2024-03-01/ #aviation #travel #business #avgeek
"NTSB: Boeing hasn’t produced records on Alaska Airlines midair blowout" by @seattletimes / @dominicgates - Apparently insufficient effort to write docs: time for Boeing to document its door plug replacement procedure. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/ntsb-boeing-not-cooperating-on-investigation-into-alaska-midair-blowout/ #AS1282 #aviation #travel #avgeek
"FAA audit of Boeing’s 737 Max production reportedly found ‘dozens of issues’" by @NBCNews https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/faa-audit-boeings-737-max-production-reportedly-found-dozens-issues-rcna142923 #AS1282 #aviation #travel #avgeek
"FBI letter tells Alaska Airlines passengers they are 'a possible victim of a crime'" by @NPR - US🇺🇸 DOJ/FBI investigation into possible crime committed by Boeing leading up to #AS1282 door blowout probably isn't routine. https://www.npr.org/2024/03/22/1240167313/boeing-alaska-airlines-door-plug-fbi #aviation #travel #avgeek
"Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun to step down in leadership shake-up" by @SeattleTimes - CEO Dave Calhoun and Commercial Airplanes division head Stan Deal ousted amid continuing #737Max crisis https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-ceo-dave-calhoun-to-step-down-in-leadership-shake-up/ #aviation #travel #business #avgeek
"Boeing Could Avoid Criminal Prosecution Following Violation Of 2021 Settlement Related To Deadly 737 MAX8 Crashes" by @Simple_Flying / @adbailey - Possible US🇺🇸 DoJ decision could assign federal safety monitors https://simpleflying.com/boeing-avoid-criminal-prosecution-violoation-2021-settlement-737-max-8-deadly-crashes/ #737Max #aviation #travel #business #avgeek
"US prosecutors recommend Justice Dept criminally charge Boeing" by @Reuters - US🇺🇸 DoJ must decide by July 7 if it will prosecute Boeing over safety lapses. Alternatives include federal safety monitors at factories. https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-prosecutors-recommend-doj-criminally-charge-boeing-deadline-looms-2024-06-23/ #737Max #aviation #travel #business
"Boeing buys struggling supplier Spirit AeroSystems to shore up 737 production woes" by @NPR - Boeing re-acquires Spirit AeroSystems to regain control of 737 fuselage & parts production partly involved in its recent lapses. https://www.npr.org/2024/07/01/1249751513/boeing-buys-spirit-aerosystems-737-max-production-woes #737Max #aviation #travel #business
It has already been 6 months (yesterday) since Alaska Airlines 1282 blew out a door over Portland on January 5, 2024. Odd coincidence: the 737 MAX door fell on the ground near the Portland MAX light rail Sunset station. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Airlines_Flight_1282 #AS1282 #737Max #aviation #travel
"Panel that blew off Boeing jet will get star billing during a Washington hearing" by @AP - NTSB showed media the #737Max door plug which fell down on Portland, Oregon from #AS1282 on Jan 5 - hearings next week in Washington DC. https://apnews.com/article/boeing-alaska-airlines-door-plug-blowout-3b0bff9d5becb9124f402e545c94fd23 #aviation #travel #avgeek
A panel that blew off a Boeing jet will get star billing during a Washington hearing
A panel that blew off a Boeing 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight will be a key part of a two-day investigative hearing set for next week. Federal investigators have been examining the mid exit door plug since not long after it blew off during a Jan. 5 flight, when the plane was at 16,000 feet. It was discovered in the backyard of a home near Portland, Oregon. National Transportation Safety Board personnel displayed the panel for the media on Tuesday at the NTSB’s laboratory in Washington, D.C. A preliminary report found that four bolts used to help secure the part were missing when the plane rolled out of a Boeing factory near Seattle.
"‘Not a One-Year Project’: FAA Vows to Continue Boeing Scrutiny" by Flying Magazine - Marking Sunday's one-year anniversary of Alaska 1282 #737MAX door blowout over Portland, the US🇺🇸 FAA says tight scrutiny of #Boeing isn't over. https://www.flyingmag.com/news/not-a-one-year-project-faa-vows-to-continue-boeing-scrutiny/ #AS1282 #aviation #travel #avgeek
"Boeing outlines safety and quality changes put in place since door plug failure incident" by KGW8 NBC Portland / KING5 NBC Seattle - Alaska Airlines 1282 #737Max door blowout over #Portland #Oregon was one year ago today. #Boeing outlined progress in that time. Of course lawyers suing Boeing say it isn't enough. 🤔 https://www.kgw.com/article/tech/science/aerospace/boeing-safety-quality-update-year-door-plug-failure/281-980f3441-d2d4-49e5-bcc0-e9ce0ac05cc5 #AS1282 #aviation #travel #avgeek #PNW
"One year later: Teacher ‘Bob’ recounts finding Alaska Air door plug in his backyard" by KOIN6 CBS Portland - At first he didn't check his backyard in detail because the news said everyone was looking for the #Boeing #737Max door plug. But when it wasn't found for a couple days, he checked. He immediately knew what it was when he spotted it hidden from view in a tree. https://www.koin.com/news/portland/one-year-later-teacher-bob-recounts-finding-alaska-air-door-plug-in-his-backyard/ #AS1282 #aviation #travel #avgeek #PNW
"Boeing says it delivered 45 airplanes in busiest January since 2023" by CNBC - First full month of production after #PNW machinist strike in Seattle & Portland. 45 commercial airplanes delivered: 40 737Max, 4 787, 1 777F freighter. Though an FAA order caps 737Max production at 38/month under current scrutiny, that's counted when they are assembled. Deliveries vary in pace and had some more this time. It isn't a violation or concern. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/11/boeing-says-it-delivered-45-airplanes-in-busiest-january-since-2023.html #aviation #business #travel #avgeek
2 years ago, Jan 5, 2024: Alaska Airlines #AS1282 experienced an in-flight blowout of a door plug on climbout from Portland #KPDX. It returned safely to PDX. But the plane has so far never flown again. Alaska made Boeing buy it back, obviously being defective.
I got this picture this afternoon during a bicycle ride. N704AL is parked on the Boeing ramp by the paint hangar. Plastic sheeting still covers where the door plug has not been replaced. #aviation #business #travel #avgeek #history #TDIH
"Alaska Airlines pilot says Boeing blamed him for door plug blowout" by @TheSeattleTimes - Brandon Fisher, captain of Alaska 1282 during the door blowout 2 years ago, filed a lawsuit in US federal court in Portland against Boeing for $10M for misstatements scapegoating the flight crew following the accident. Since then Boeing's statements have been used by lawyers as reason to name him in passenger lawsuits. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/alaska-airlines-pilot-says-boeing-blamed-him-for-door-plug-blowout/ #AS1282 #aviation #business #travel #avgeek
J 
Sam - WiredForFlight
Anne Ominous@ikluft real cool that our regulatory bodies have basically no power. i seriously wonder where all this will even lead. bc i can pretty much guarantee anyone that the US govt is not going to be nationalizing or breaking up any corporations anytime soon.
as my bud was saying the other day - the NTSB can only 'make recommendations'
waldi
OldFartPhil@ikluft @jonostrower There were more than four bolts holding the plug in place. It took multiple flights for the whole assembly to weaken enough for the plug to dislodge.
J. Steven York@ikluft @[email protected] @jonostrower
The door wasn't actually held ON by the bolts. In fact, the door (or plug in this case, it held on to horizontal pins that the door hooks over and downward into the installed position. The bolts keep the door from lifting up to clear the pins. Without the bolts, the door was kept from moving out, but there was nothing to keep the door from sliding UP and eventually releasing the pins. This could have easily happened before pressurization, as in hitting a bump in the taxiway, though there would be a tendency for the door to fall back into the fully locked position. This is probably how the door created those pressurization warning lights that miraculously seemed to fix themselves. As they cycled the pressurization, the door was free to fall back. Once the plane was fully pressurized at altitude, it would be tightly sucked against the opening, and would have been hard to move. My guess is, there was some sweet spot, where the door was loose enough to move, but pushed outwards far enough to stick in position when lifted. It would be like a booby-trap that reset itself every time they landed and opened the plane. But one day it moved just a LITTLE too far.
The door wasn't actually held ON by the bolts. In fact, the door (or plug in this case, it held on to horizontal pins that the door hooks over and downward into the installed position. The bolts keep the door from lifting up to clear the pins. Without the bolts, the door was kept from moving out, but there was nothing to keep the door from sliding UP and eventually releasing the pins. This could have easily happened before pressurization, as in hitting a bump in the taxiway, though there would be a tendency for the door to fall back into the fully locked position. This is probably how the door created those pressurization warning lights that miraculously seemed to fix themselves. As they cycled the pressurization, the door was free to fall back. Once the plane was fully pressurized at altitude, it would be tightly sucked against the opening, and would have been hard to move. My guess is, there was some sweet spot, where the door was loose enough to move, but pushed outwards far enough to stick in position when lifted. It would be like a booby-trap that reset itself every time they landed and opened the plane. But one day it moved just a LITTLE too far.
JL Johnson 
@ikluft was chatting with some guys and we decided Boeing might consider changing their name to Wing and a Prayer SMH!
@User47 This was a serious goof. But at least now we know when and how it happened. Human error from forgetting something is routinely dealt with by checklists and cross-checking/reviewing work. So actually we can have confidence they'll be able to resolve this so it doesn't happen again.
The scary thought to me is, although the seat next to the door plug was empty on AS1282, how many people sat next to it on prior flights? They would likely have died if it happened on their flight.
@ikluft how many other egregious whoopsie-doos exist? 🙁 and where are all of the problems with the planes the “lazy” French build 😂
@User47 Airbus has had problems too. Each had pilot-override crashes after adopting fly-by-wire: A320 was Air France 296Q in 1988, 737Max was JT610 in 2018 & ET302 in 2019. Airbus had recent quality issues with A350 paint & composite delamination - settled in court but lack transparency whether it's really fixed yet. Airbus had an egregious user interface problem with AF447 2009 where pilot inputs didn't mean what FO thought when control law changed, other pilot got no warnings about conflict.
@User47 We really need to focus on finding root causes of problems, including systemic and human factors behind some. Solve those with procedures that will prevent them. It works.
The door plug blowout is triggering talks betwen Boeing & Spirit that they needed to have about working more closely together. But Boeing really shouldn't have spun-out Spirit to start with.