Boeing Blamed for Alaska Airlines MAX 9 Mid-Air Panel Blowout

Boeing is facing renewed scrutiny after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) blamed the company’s poor safety culture, oversight, and training for the January 2024 mid-air panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9. The NTSB report found Boeing failed to install four key bolts on the aircraft’s door plug during production and provided no documentation of its removal or reinstallation. Investigators said the incident, which forced an emergency landing, was entirely preventable.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy called it “nothing short of a miracle” that no one was killed or seriously injured. She criticized Boeing for ignoring unauthorized production practices flagged in internal audits for over a decade. The report also cited ineffective oversight from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which admitted it had been “too hands-off” but has since increased inspections at Boeing and its supplier, Spirit AeroSystems.

The FAA grounded the MAX 9 fleet for two weeks and capped production at 38 jets per month, a restriction still in effect. The agency stated it will not lift the cap until Boeing proves it can consistently maintain safety and quality standards.

The incident triggered a Justice Department criminal investigation, revealing Boeing violated a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement related to two earlier 737 MAX crashes. Although Boeing agreed to plead guilty in July 2024, a more recent deal may let the company avoid a guilty plea or external oversight if approved by a judge.

Outgoing CEO Dave Calhoun announced his resignation following the blowout, while new CEO Kelly Ortberg has pledged to improve safety. Boeing said it regrets the accident and is working on safety upgrades, including a design change to ensure door plugs are fully secured before closure.