NTSB Intensifies Boeing 737 MAX 9 Probe with New Interviews

U.S. aviation investigators are back in the spotlight this week as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducts fresh interviews with Boeing and FAA teams over January's Alaska Airlines door plug blowout. The high-stakes inquiry aims to uncover why critical records about the faulty door plug—which blew off mid-flight—were never documented.

Missing Bolts, Missing Paperwork

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy revealed at a Senate hearing that Boeing still can't identify which workers handled the Alaska Airlines plane's door plug last September. 'The biggest concern is missing records,' she said, comparing the factory process to a fast-moving assembly line where planes 'move a lot' through Renton, Washington.

Safety Culture Under Microscope

Beyond paperwork gaps, the NTSB is scrutinizing Boeing's safety protocols. Homendy hinted at a potential company-wide safety culture survey, emphasizing this isn't about 'gotcha' moments but systemic fixes. Boeing claims full cooperation, stating they 'want to know and fix' what went wrong.

What's Next?

• FAA-mandated 90-day quality control overhaul continues
• Criminal probe by Justice Department ongoing
• Public hearing set for Aug 6-7 with Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, and Alaska Airlines testimony

This comes four months after the FAA grounded MAX 9 jets and halted Boeing's production expansion. With four bolts missing from the doomed door plug, the incident remains a wake-up call for aviation safety.

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NTSB conducting new interviews on Boeing 737 MAX 9 door plug probe

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