The alarming find follows a mid-air scare that left passengers shaken and the airline industry rattled.
Alaska Airlines, already reeling from a recent airborne nightmare where a door plug was dramatically blown off mid-flight, is now grappling with a new crisis. The airline’s chief, Ben Minicucci, didn’t mince words in his NBC News interview: “It’s outrageous to find such faults in brand-new planes. I’m beyond frustrated – I’m furious. This isn’t just Alaska Airlines’ problem; it’s a danger to our guests and our crew.”
The January 5 flight, which was forced to make an emergency return to Portland after the door incident at 16,000 feet, narrowly avoided a catastrophe. With 171 passengers on board, the situation could’ve been dire. “We must’ve had a guardian angel,” Minicucci reflected, noting the stroke of luck that the seat next to the affected door was one of the few empty ones.
Following this brush with disaster, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) swung into action, grounding all Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets nationwide for urgent safety inspections. This new fiasco is another black mark against Boeing’s 737 MAX, an aircraft that was previously banned globally after fatal crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia claimed 346 lives. Although the planes were later cleared to return to the skies, this latest incident raises fresh doubts about their safety.
Alaska Airlines isn’t taking any chances. Minicucci announced plans to deploy auditors to Boeing’s facilities to scrutinize their quality control measures, ensuring the safety of their fleet. The airline is also reconsidering its purchase of Boeing’s upcoming 737 MAX 10 model.
Boeing, in a statement to NBC, said it was sorry for letting down its customers and vowed to take corrective steps to get the 737 MAX 9s flying safely again.
But the damage might already be done. United Airlines, too, has found loose bolts in its 737s and is now re-evaluating its relationship with Boeing. CEO Scott Kirby, in a candid CNBC interview, stated, “This could be the last straw for us. Boeing needs to take real, concrete steps to rebuild its tarnished reputation for quality.”
With both airlines putting Boeing on notice, the aviation giant faces a turbulent path ahead to restore trust and ensure the safety of its aircraft.
