Alaska Airlines returns 737 MAX 9 involved in mid-air blowout to Boeing

Alaska Airlines has confirmed the return of a Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft that was involved in a mid-air door panel blowout earlier this year.

Aircraft’s registration has been changed

According to a spokesperson from Alaska Airlines, the plane has been handed back to Boeing, with its registration officially changed. The incident, which occurred in January, involved a door panel blowout during flight, prompting safety concerns and investigations.

Alaska Airlines has placed an order for a new Boeing 737-10.

In response, Alaska Airlines has not only returned the affected aircraft but has also placed an order for a new Boeing 737-10.

Boeing, meanwhile, faces additional challenges with its 737 jet family production. Sources informed Reuters of a three-month delay in a critical production milestone, highlighting ongoing setbacks for the aerospace giant.

Recently, U.S. investigators took action against Boeing for prematurely disclosing details of the blowout investigation. This led to sanctions and a decision to refer the matter to the Justice Department. Boeing subsequently issued an apology for its handling of the situation.

Boeing has delivered $160 million in “initial compensation” to the carrier following an incident where a panel detached from an Alaska Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft in January. Alaska Airlines expects additional compensation related to the incident, the details of which remain confidential.

Promptly after the incident, Alaska grounded all its Max 9 aircraft, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to subsequently ground all Max 9s in the United States, affecting United Airlines as well.