The Alaska Airlines plane experienced a mid-air incident leading to an emergency landing in Portland, US, as its exit door detached. The report suggests that typically, such doors are permanently sealed or “plugged” on the airline’s aircraft.

According to Flightradar24, the Boeing 737-9 MAX model has an additional exit door positioned behind the wings but before the rear exit door. Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) temporarily grounding certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft operated by U.S. airlines or in U.S. territory.

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker emphasized the importance of safety in decision-making and announced immediate inspections of specific Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes before they can resume flights. The inspections, mandated by the EAD, are estimated to take four to eight hours per aircraft and will affect approximately 171 airplanes globally.

In response, Alaska Airlines expressed regret for the impact on customers and supported the FAA’s decision for immediate inspections. Boeing, likewise, acknowledged the incident and pledged cooperation, with a technical team ready to assist the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) investigation.