United Airlines has found loose bolts and other parts on 737 Max 9 plug doors as it inspects its fleet of Boeing jets following the Friday rapid depressurization aboard an Alaska Airlines jet of the same make, according to three people familiar with the findings.
The discrepant bolts and other parts on the plug doors have been found on at least five aircraft, one of the people told The Air Current.
A spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration declined to comment on the United findings, and pointed to the agency’s earlier statements.
The findings aboard the five United aircraft will likely significantly widen the fall-out from the grounding, intensifying the focus on Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems.
Later Monday, Alaska Airlines confirmed it, too, had found issues with the plug doors on its grounded jets.
“As our maintenance technicians began preparing our 737-9 Max fleet for inspections, they accessed the area in question.
United is the only other U.S. airline to fly the 737 Max 9 and is the largest operator with 79 in its fleet. »
