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David Ryder/Bloomberg/Getty Images
A Boeing 737 Max aircraft on the production line at the company’s manufacturing facility in Renton, Washington, photographed in 2015.
(CNN) — The Federal Aviation Administration is asking airlines to inspect so-called door plugs on early versions of Boeing 737s after a door plug ejected from the side of a new Max plane during an Alaska Airlines flight earlier this month. did.
The FAA said Sunday that airlines operating Boeing 737-900ER aircraft must “visually inspect intermediate exit door plugs to ensure that the door is properly secured,” and I mentioned the panel that covers the hole.
“Although the Boeing 737-900ER is not part of the new Max fleet, the door plug design is the same,” US aviation regulators added in what is known as a safety alert for operators.
Boeing stock fell about 3% in premarket trading Monday. The safety alert for the plane, which has been in service for almost 20 years, would be the latest blow to the company. The company has repeatedly faced aircraft quality and safety issues in recent years, leading to the long-term grounding of some jets and aircraft. Other people’s deliveries may be delayed.
The company’s stock price has plummeted since the door plug of one of its Max 9 jets popped out of the side of the fuselage within minutes of a flight from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing. It fell 14%. Emergency landing.
Boeing said in a statement shared with CNN that it “fully” supports the FAA and the regulator’s latest actions against its customers.
Since the horrific incident just over two weeks ago, some airlines have been inspecting early-manufactured Boeing planes. The FAA said “bolt marks” securing the door plug were observed on the plane. Regulators did not say what the findings were.
Following recent testing of the new Max 9, United and Alaska Airlines Also Both bolts were found to be loose.
United Airlines told CNN on Monday that it began “active testing” of its Boeing 737-900ER aircraft last week and plans to complete it within the next few days without disrupting customers.
The FAA’s notice does not authorize the grounding of earlier generation aircraft. Instead, it recommends airlines inspect door plugs and bolts. “as soon as possible.”
The new Max 9 aircraft remains grounded in the United States. The agency said it is continuing to review data collected during inspections of 40 sample aircraft and considering ways to determine whether the aircraft are safe to fly again.
Olesya Dmitracova contributed to the report.
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