Vantage | Why Boeing plane's door accident has spooked flyers

The fear of flying often revolves around the myriad things that could go wrong mid-air. One such nightmare scenario unfolded recently when a Boeing 737 MAX 9 plane experienced a harrowing incident during a routine flight from Portland to Ontario. The aircraft’s side panel blew out shortly after takeoff, prompting a swift response from the pilots. Fortunately, the plane landed safely back in Portland, and miraculously, there were no casualties among the passengers or crew.

The incident occurred at 16,000 feet, and the cause was traced back to the emergency door, which blew out minutes after takeoff. Experts attribute the fortunate outcome to several factors: the plane’s altitude wasn’t too high, minimizing the impact of air pressure differentials; everyone was wearing seatbelts, preventing potential ejections; and, crucially, the seat near the emergency door was unoccupied. Despite the close call, the incident highlights the potential dangers of such malfunctions mid-flight. Regulatory response In the aftermath of the incident, regulators acted swiftly to address safety concerns. The US Aviation Authority decided to ground all Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes, totalling 171 aircraft. Similar actions were taken by carriers in Panama, Brazil and Turkey, underscoring the global impact of the incident. Indian carriers, while not using the affected 737 MAX 9 model, were directed to inspect emergency doors on their Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes as a precautionary measure, with no issues detected. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched a thorough investigation into the incident. Remarkably, the door plug, a crucial piece of evidence, was found in the backyard of a school teacher. NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy expressed gratitude for the discovery and announced plans to analyse the door plug to determine the root cause of the malfunction. “I’m excited to announce that we’ve found the door plug. Thank you, Bob. I will not give you Bob’s last name, but Bob contacted us at with two photos of the door plug and said he found it in his backyard. We’re going to go pick that up and make sure we begin analyzing it,” said Homendy. Boeing’s response and market impact Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, expressed regret for the incident and pledged full cooperation with the investigation. However, the financial markets reacted negatively, with Boeing shares plummeting by 8 per cent following the grounding of the planes. The company now faces the challenge of addressing safety concerns, potentially making modifications or upgrades before the aircraft can be deemed fit to fly again. The future of the Boeing 737 MAX hinges on the results of the investigation. If the incident was an isolated case, Boeing may weather the storm with minimal long-term consequences. However, if underlying issues are revealed, the company could face significant challenges, including potential grounding of all 737 MAX planes by regulatory authorities. Such a scenario would impact not only the aviation industry but also Boeing’s reputation and customer trust. The Boeing 737 MAX has faced a turbulent history, marred by two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 that led to a global grounding of the aircraft. The model was only cleared to fly in late 2020 after extensive modifications. The recent incident reopens wounds, bringing back memories of past tragedies and casting doubt on Boeing’s engineering capabilities. As the investigation unfolds, the aviation industry watches closely to understand the root cause of the Boeing 737 MAX emergency door incident. The implications are far-reaching, affecting not only Boeing’s immediate future but also the broader landscape of air travel safety and regulatory oversight. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the constant challenges faced by the aviation industry in ensuring the safety and security of air travel for passengers worldwide. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.