- Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 incident
- Boeing 737 Max safety concerns
- Urgent FAA inspections ordered
Everything could have been considerably worse.
Passengers would have been terrified of the incident that befell Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Friday, but in the end, there were no significant injuries and the aircraft landed safely.
Nevertheless, the situation might have been drastically altered had the malfunction occurred at a later stage of the flight.
The incident transpired moments subsequent to the departure from Portland International Airport while the Boeing 737 Max 9 was in the ascending position.
A useless emergency exit door detonated, resulting in a significant perforation along the fuselage’s side.
The aircraft experienced an abrupt reduction in cabin pressure due to the expulsion of air and the subsequent equilibration of the interior atmosphere with the thinner air outside.
This was mitigated by two significant factors. Before anything else, at this point in the flight, every passenger would have been secured in their seat with a seatbelt.
Additionally, information obtained from aircraft monitoring sites indicates that the aircraft peaked at approximately 16,300 feet in altitude prior to a rapid descent.
The 737 Max cruising altitude is approximately 38,000 feet. The pressure differential between the aircraft’s interior and the surrounding atmosphere is significantly greater at this altitude. The abrupt airflow would have been considerably more lethal and destructive if the door had been blasted out, particularly if passengers were not secured in seatbelts.
“Other unbuckled passengers in the immediate vicinity or in seats surrounding it may have been sucked out of the aircraft,” aviation consultant and former aircraft accident investigator Tim Atkinson explained.
The worst-case scenario is that you lose an entire row and possibly a few individuals who are standing nearby as well.
Additionally, the aircraft’s interior temperature would have fallen considerably. Generally, the air at such altitudes is extremely frigid, at least -57C (-71F).
Emergency Oxygen Dependency and Aircraft Safety
Crew and passengers would have been dependent on oxygen in an emergency. They would have rapidly lost consciousness in its absence.
A similar incident transpired in 2018 involving a Boeing 737 aircraft of an older model that was under the operation of Southwest Airlines. During takeoff from 32,000 feet, one of the compartment windows was shattered by debris caused by an engine failure.
Due to the abrupt decompression of the aircraft, a passenger was forcibly expelled in part through the window. Her demise was precipitated by the injuries she sustained.
Immediate concern in this instance is whether or not the events that transpired aboard Flight 1282 are replicable on other aircraft. The door under consideration is designed to be firmly fastened to the fuselage by means of four fasteners. Given that the aircraft was only two months old, it is improbable that ordinary wear and tear played a significant role.
For this reason, Alaska Airlines initially decided to suspend its 737 Max 9 fleet.
Similar to other regulatory bodies, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States grounded 171 aircraft temporarily to conduct inspections.
“It could be a manufacturing defect, a design flaw, or a combination of the two.” “Alternatively, it might be something unidentified,” Mr. Atkinson speculated.
Boeing is confronted with an additional challenge.
The incident involved a 737 Max, Boeing’s latest workhorse. Designed to be significantly more fuel-efficient than its predecessors, the aircraft has been well received by airlines. However, its safety record has been significantly damaged.
Nearly identical accidents in late 2018 and early 2019 near Indonesia and outside Addis Ababa claimed two aircraft.
In total, 346 individuals were slain. The pilots did their best, but malfunctioning flight control software caused both mishaps, which led to devastating dives.
As a consequence of those occurrences, the worldwide 737 Max fleet was grounded for over eighteen months. While the issue was resolved and additional safety inspections were conducted. Subsequently, the FAA director general referred to the design as “the most meticulously examined transport aircraft in history.”
However, since the 737 Max resumed service, the program has been plagued by a number of high-profile issues. Such as quality control concerns and electrical malfunctions.
Safety advocates have additionally voiced apprehension regarding the quantity of reported malfunctions occurring on operational aircraft.
Boeing urged airlines to conduct rudder inspections in December, following the discovery of a missing fastener on one aircraft. It stated that its actions were taken “with an excess of caution.”
Following the occurrence of the catastrophes, Boeing encountered extensive allegations that it prioritized financial gain over passenger safety.
As a result, according to whistleblowers, the company forced its employees to construct an excessive number of aircraft too rapidly, which caused disorderly conditions in its factories and production line shortcuts.
Boeing maintains that it is an entirely distinct organization today. David Calhoun, the organization’s chief executive officer, has repeatedly emphasized the company’s dedication to the utmost safety, quality, and integrity standards.
Some critics, however, continue to be unconvinced.
“An enormous wake-up call”
Former Boeing senior manager Ed Pierson warned about 737 Max production line issues before the two accidents. The Foundation for Aviation Safety, which is investigating the aircraft’s history, is led by him.
He maintained that conditions within Boeing’s facilities have not improved and that the United States regulator’s efforts to hold the company accountable have been ineffective.
He remarked, “This is an enormous wake-up call.”
A high-profile incident that forces them to confront major flaws could be a benefit.
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Boeing has consistently refuted the existence of such issues.
The company issued the following statement in response to the FAA’s order for the most recent groundings: “Our utmost concern is the safety of our customers and passengers, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this incident has caused. We wholeheartedly concur with and substantiate the FAA’s determination to mandate immediate inspections of 737-9 aircraft that share the identical configuration with the impacted aircraft.
Boeing is currently increasing 737 Max production in an effort to reduce customer wait times and its order backlog.
The timing of this most recent incident involving the company’s premier aircraft was arguably catastrophic.
Regardless of the underlying cause, continued apprehension regarding the already tarnished 737 Max brand is probable, especially among passengers.
