US opens safety investigation into Boeing after Alaska Airlines blowout

The FAA probe, which could result in a financial penalty on Boeing, marks an escalation by the agency over the incident.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is launching a formal investigation into aircraft manufacturer Boeing after a cabin panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines-operated 737 Max 9 jet last week forced an emergency landing.

“This incident should have never happened and it cannot happen again,” the FAA said in a statement on Thursday, after a panel known as a “door plug” blew out of the plane, causing a gaping hole, shortly after takeoff from the western US state of Oregon.

There were no fatalities or serious injuries after Alaska Airlines safely executed an emergency landing in the January 5 incident, but investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have said the incident could have resulted in serious harm.

The FAA probe – which could result in a financial penalty on Boeing – marks an escalation by the agency following the first major in-flight safety issue on a Boeing plane since the fatal 2018 and 2019 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people and led to all aircraft being grounded for nearly two years.

The FAA also said it was investigating “additional discrepancies on other Boeing 737-9 airplanes,” according to a letter to the company that gave it 10 days to respond.