Boeing 737 MAX 9
Location: International
Issue/Source: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends door plug checks for Boeing 737-900ER
Date: March 2024
Suggested Responses
- Transport Canada (TC) is aware of the incident that occurred on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on January 5, 2024, when a door plug was ejected from the Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, and is closely monitoring the actions undertaken by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in response to this event.
- The safety of Canadians is TC's highest priority. The department is committed to keeping Canadians, the travelling public, and the transportation system safe and secure.
- Transport Canada TC is in contact with other foreign regulators on the matter to ensure a coordinated approach. Transport Canada TC takes all aviation incidents seriously, and the department will continue to closely monitor the situation and will not hesitate to take appropriate action for public safety.
If Pressed
- There are no Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft being operated by Canadian carriers, and there is no door plug on the Boeing 737 MAX 8 being operated by Canadian carriers.
- Transport Canada will continue to monitor the implementation of the Emergency Airworthiness Directive to ensure that all foreign carriers that operate the Boeing 737 MAX 9 in Canadian airspace are taking the necessary actions and will evaluate any further action that may be required.
Background Information
- On January 5, 2024, Alaska Airlines temporarily grounded its fleet of 65 737-9 MAX after a door plug detached during flight 1282 from Portland, OR to Ontario, CA. The National Transportation Safety Board assumed the lead role in the investigation of the incident, with the support of Alaska’s safety and technical teams and Boeing representatives.
- The protection of the Canadian civil aviation system, including the certification and validation of aircraft, is safeguarded by the Aeronautics Act and the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
- The validation of an aircraft that was designed and manufactured in another country is a scalable and thorough process: Transport Canada (TC) uses several indicators that help define the scope and depth of this exercise, which includes the inclusion of new technology, service experience of related designs, and experience with manufacturer.
- The Federal Aviation Administration advised Transport Canada (TC) on January 22, 2024 that one instance of missing bolts were found on the door plug of a 737-900ER.
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) believes that these missing bolts would not create a safety of flight issue. As a precaution, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Safety Alert for Operators to recommend inspections of the 737-900ER aircraft.