Boeing Increases Quality Inspections of 737 Max 9 Aircraft After Emergency Exit Door Failure

　　Quality Assurance Shortcomings

　　On Monday, Boeing notified its employees of plans to increase quality inspections of its 737 Max 9 aircraft. This decision follows the failure of an emergency exit door panel on an Alaska Airlines flight last week.

　　This incident marks the latest in a series of setbacks for Boeing, whose reputation as the leading American aircraft manufacturer has been tarnished by a string of manufacturing flaws. These flaws have prompted some airlines to defer aircraft purchases or opt for its European competitor, Airbus.

　　Recent Troubles

　　The decision for inspections comes after federal regulators grounded the 737 Max and Boeing acknowledged, in light of the Alaska Airlines flight and customer complaints, that "we are not where we need to be" in terms of quality assurance and controls.

　　In an email to employees, Stan Deal, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, emphasized the company's commitment to addressing these issues: "Our team is also taking a hard look at our quality practices in our factories and across our production system."

　　Furthermore, Boeing plans to involve airline customers and independent inspectors to examine the aircraft as needed, Deal noted.

　　Emergency Exit Door Failure

　　The recent incident involved one of two door plugs on an Alaska Max 9 aircraft, which blew out shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, creating a hole in the fuselage. The cabin depressurized, forcing the plane to make a rapid descent and return to Portland for an emergency landing. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.

　　Following this incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced plans to investigate whether the manufacturer failed to ensure the safety and compliance of the fuselage panel that blew off, in accordance with the approved design.

　　The National Transportation Safety Board is focusing its investigation on the plugs used to fill spots for extra doors on Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners, where such exits are not required for safety reasons.

　　A Series of Mishaps

　　The Alaska Airlines incident is the latest in a string of mishaps for Boeing that began in 2018. Two crashes of Max 8 planes occurred in Indonesia and Ethiopia, just over four months apart, resulting in the tragic loss of 346 lives.

　　Following the second crash, Max 8 and Max 9 planes were grounded worldwide for nearly two years. Since then, various manufacturing flaws have intermittently delayed deliveries of Max jets and the larger Boeing 787 aircraft. Just last month, the company requested airlines to inspect their Max jets for a loose bolt in the rudder-control system.

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