Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci recently revealed that loose bolts were found on many of its Boeing planes after a recent near-disaster took place. According to the CEO, a new in-house inspection uncovered the dangerous conditions of the 737 MAX 9 planes.
“I’m angry,” Minicucci said in an interview with NBC News on January 23, 2024. “I’m more than frustrated and disappointed. I am angry. This happened to Alaska Airlines. It happened to our guests and happened to our people."
“And my demand on Boeing is what are they going to do to improve their quality programs in-house. Boeing is better than this. Flight 1282 should never have happened," he stated.
During a flight to California on January 5, 2024, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, carrying 177 people, lost a door plug while mid-flight. The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered all MAX 9 jets to be grounded and launched a safety investigation.
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“We’ve got a lot of inspectors on the ground, visually inspecting the aircraft as it comes through,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker told NBC News. “We’re shifting from more of an audit approach to a direct inspection approach. Until we’re comfortable that the [quality assurance] system is working properly … we’re going to have boots on the ground."
