It’s not new to anyone by now that Boeings troubles with the 737 Max aren’t going anywhere. First with the crash of multiple 737 Max’s due to software issues with a flight safety system and now with the recent loss of a emergency door plug at 14,000ft mid accent.
What Happened With Alaska Airlines 737 Max?
A 737 Max was climbing to cruising altitude when a door plug, which is not used as an emergency door with Alaska Airlines, came loose and fell to the ground. The cabin lost pressure and apart from shock, a ripped off shirt and a lost cell phone, no injuries resulted. The airliner came in for an emergency landing without further incident. There are a couple things to get straight
- This was not an emergency exit, the Alaska Airlines configuration did not call for using that area as an emergency door so a door sized plug was “Bolted” in place. For some reason this door fell off without any interaction from anyone onboard.
- The door was found almost 100% intact and although this was not confirmed as of today, other planes have been found with loose bolts on the aircraft so the expectation is that a bolt was either missing or loose.
- Given that all 737 Max’s have been grounded, this will have a huge impact on Boeing and the most sold aircraft in the world, the 737.
What should you do?
I’m not going to bat an eye at this. Boeing’s going to be investigated and airlines are going to make the safest choices which also have the benefit of being the most cost effective platforms to use. Losing customers because of the planes you fly isn’t a great business so airlines will make the decisions that make them the most money.
Why Did This Come to be?
This all originated in 1997 with the merger of McDonnell Douglass and Boeing. Boeing was a engineering powerhouse with the most hard workin and inventive employees in the world but they were focusing on engineering first, not profitability. When the merger took effect McDonnell Douglass leadership strongly focused on cost savings and strong sales.
It should have been a powerhouse of a company but with engineering and innovation taking a slight back seat to profitability, things like not introducing a new jet and instead staying with the 737 which has been flying since 1967 took place. Boeing still has amazing engineers and I think they can use the 737 Max to get back into the engineering groove before one of the greatest American companies gets beat up by foreign plane manufacturers.
