Alaska Airlines Cooperation with DOJ in Boeing 737 MAX Investigation
Alaska Airlines and DOJ Collaboration
Alaska Airlines is actively collaborating with the U.S. Department of Justice following the initiation of a criminal investigation into the Boeing 737 MAX incident that occurred on one of its flights in January. The airline reassured that it is fully cooperating with the authorities and does not consider itself a target of the investigation.
Details of the Investigation
According to reports, investigators have reached out to passengers and crew members who were on the flight that experienced an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon, after a fuselage panel detachment midair. This investigation is crucial for the DOJ’s evaluation of Boeing’s compliance with a previous settlement related to the fatal crashes involving the 737 MAX in 2018 and 2019.
FAA’s Involvement and Grounding
Following the incident, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered the temporary grounding of 171 narrowbody MAX 9 jets with a similar configuration. Alaska Airlines resumed MAX 9 service after completing inspections on its aircraft, with the FAA closely monitoring the situation.
NTSB Findings and Manufacturer Details
Further investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that the door panel detachment was likely due to missing bolts. The implicated plug was manufactured by Spirit AeroSystems, a former subsidiary of Boeing. This discovery shed light on potential manufacturing discrepancies that require thorough examination.
Alaska Airlines reaffirmed its commitment to safety and transparency throughout this process, emphasizing the importance of thorough investigations and corrective actions to prevent such incidents in the future. The collaboration between the airline and regulatory authorities is essential for maintaining the highest standards of safety in the aviation industry.
