Boeing Plans Design Changes After Door Incident

Boeing is under scrutiny following a mid-air door plug blowout incident on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 in January that exposed significant safety oversights, including missing anchoring bolts. During two days of hearings led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), it was revealed that the door plug, which detached shortly after takeoff, had not been properly documented during assembly at Boeing's factory. In response, Boeing announced plans to redesign the door plugs and implement changes within the next year to prevent similar incidents, such as ensuring doors cannot close without proper fastening. The hearings also highlighted issues regarding Boeing's safety culture and pressures that may have contributed to the oversight, including high staff turnover and poor communication with suppliers. As a consequence of the incident, Boeing faced significant reputational damage, grounding of aircraft, and a criminal investigation. The NTSB has emphasized the need for Boeing to enhance its safety measures to regain public trust.