Accident · 2024-01-05

NTSB case DCA24MA063 · BOEING 737-9 · Part 121

What the record says

Event date
2024-01-05
Event type
Accident
Highest injury level
Minor injury
Aircraft
BOEING 737-9 (N704AL)
Operating rule
Part 121
Operator
ALASKA AIR INC Operator named in NTSB report
Operated by (per NTSB report)
ALASKA AIRLINES INC

Probable cause

the in-flight separation of the left mid exit door (MED) plug due to Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ failure to provide adequate training, guidance, and oversight necessary to ensure that manufacturing personnel could consistently and correctly comply with its parts removal process, which was intended to document and ensure that the securing bolts and hardware that were removed from the left MED plug to facilitate rework during the manufacturing process were reinstalled. Contributing to the accident was the Federal Aviation Administration’s ineffective compliance enforcement surveillance and audit planning activities, which failed to adequately identify and ensure that Boeing addressed the repetitive and systemic nonconformance issues associated with its parts removal process.

Source: NTSB case DCA24MA063

Flight crew

Certification and experience as recorded in the NTSB accident database for this event. The NTSB records these facts about the crew's flying history; GroundCheck shows them as filed, without names or identities.

RoleCertificateInstrument ratingAgeMedicalFlight hours
Pilot pilot flyingAirline transport pilotAirplane48Class 1 (2023-09-08)12,500 total · 6,500 in this make/model
Co-pilotAirline transport pilotAirplane36Class 1 (2023-06-13)8,300 total · 1,500 in this make/model

Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.

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