US airlines find loose parts on planes, raising pressure on Boeing

Inspections come after a cabin panel on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 blew out in flight

Boeing’s latest 737 Max crisis deepened after United Airlines and Alaska Airlines said they had found loose parts on multiple grounded Max 9 aircraft, raising new concerns among industry experts about how its best-selling jet family is manufactured.

US regulators grounded 171 Max 9 planes after a cabin panel blew out on an Alaska Airlines-operated flight not long after taking off from a Portland, Oregon, airport on Jan 5, forcing pilots to scramble to land the plane safely.

Alaska Airlines said late on Jan 8 that initial reports from its technicians indicated that some loose hardware” was visible on some aircraft in the relevant area when it conducted checks of its fleet.

It was waiting for final documentation from Boeing and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before formal inspections could begin.

United, the other US carrier that flies this Boeing model with the panels, said its preliminary checks found bolts that needed tightening on several panels.

The disclosures heighten concerns about the production process of the Max 9 jets that have been grounded.

A source familiar with the matter said United had so far found close to 10 planes with loose bolts during its preliminary checks, up from an initial five first reported by industry publication The Air Current, and the figure might increase.

There are still ongoing discussions between Boeing, the FAA and the airlines on the precise inspection guidelines.

Boeing was expected to revise the guidelines it submitted to airlines earlier on Jan 8, and the FAA would have to sign off on those changes before the airlines could begin repairs, sources said.

Boeing said it was staying in close contact with Max 9 operators and would help customers address any findings during inspections.