On January 5th, a Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft experienced a midair door plug blowout, prompting engineers and mechanics at Alaska Air to express concerns about a potential issue. Despite their worries, the airline decided to continue operating the plane on multiple flights with passengers before it was scheduled for maintenance at Portland International Airport later that evening.
The New York Times reported that engineers had recommended a comprehensive maintenance check for the aircraft based on warning lights that had triggered from predictive tools, rather than the frequency of light occurrences.
Evidence of a possible issue with the MAX 9 had been building up over a period of days or even weeks prior to the incident. Alaska Air stated that there was no confirmed connection between the warning lights and the door plug blowout. In response to the incident, Alaska Air has assured that they are taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety and maintenance of their aircraft fleet.
The airline continues to investigate the cause of the door plug blowout and is working closely with Boeing to address any potential concerns.
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