Alaska CEO Says ‘Many’ Loose Bolts Found In MAX 9 Door Plugs

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minucci told NBC News Tuesday technicians have found "many" loose bolts on door plugs in Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft since the planes were grounded more than two weeks ago. The NBC interview was scheduled to run on the NBC Evening News. The FAA ordered the grounding of 171 MAX 9s after a door plug separated from an Alaska flight on Jan. 5. The grounding affected only MAX 9s equipped with panels filling an opening in the fuselage where an emergency exit would be if the plane had more seats. Minucci did not say exactly how many bolts on how many aircraft were insecure, but he clearly wasn't happy about it.

“I'm angry. I'm more than frustrated and disappointed. I am angry,” the WSJ quoted him as saying. “This happened to Alaska Airlines. It happened to our guests and happened to our people.” So far only 40 MAX 9s have been inspected, according to the WSJ. The FAA hasn't yet released the remaining aircraft to be inspected, and it's not clear when that will happen. The agency also recommended airlines operating some 737-900ER aircraft with the same door plugs check them but didn't ground those airplanes. Minucci said Alaska representatives will be on the factory floor from now on overseeing construction of planes his airline has ordered.

Earlier in the day, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said the carrier has removed a huge order for up to 477 MAX 10s from its operational plan because it's afraid Boeing won't be able to certify them on schedule. Boeing needs an exemption on re-engineering the de-icing systems on the engine inlets on the MAX 10 and 7 to get the planes into production in the next year and given the most recent issues that timeline is in question. Kirby hasn't said it will be going elsewhere for the planes it needs but said the airline will be talking with Boeing about the order.

Also on Tuesday, Boeing announced it will have a one-day safety standdown at the MAX plant in Renton, Washington. In a note to all commercial aircraft employees the company said the MAX workers will spend Thursday in sessions on “hands-on learning, reflection and collaboration." Stan Deal, who heads up the division said the day will allow “all teammates who touch the airplane to pause, evaluate what we’re doing, how we’re doing it and make recommendations for improvement.”