The investigation into Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes continued on Tuesday after United Airlines and Alaska Airlines announced a day earlier that inspections following the loss of the plane’s doors last week had found poorly secured components. full flight, AFP and Agerpres agencies note.

NTSB (United States Transportation Security Administration) inspectors inspect an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 plane, which had a door that came off during flightPhoto: Ntsb/National Transportation / Zuma Press / Profimedia

The US Civil Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered an inspection of 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes, which remain on the ground pending a thorough technical inspection, which has already led to the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights since Saturday, the FlightAware website reported. .

United Airlines, which operates the world’s largest fleet of 737 MAX 9 aircraft with 79 aircraft of this model, has identified “bolts that should be tightened again.”

“As we began inspections on Saturday, we made discoveries that appear to be related to problems with the installation of the panel that closes the door,” United Airlines said in a statement quoted by AFP.

For its part, Alaska Airlines announced after a preliminary inspection that it had found “poorly secured equipment” on some of its aircraft of this type.

And Boeing noticed a poorly tightened nut on one of its planes

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on Monday evening that it did not find any bolts among the elements that broke away on Friday from the Boeing 737 MAX 9 of Alaska Airlines.

On Friday, the left side door of an Alaska Airlines plane detached during flight, causing the plane to depressurize. The door was found on Sunday in the garden of a teacher in Portland (Oregon), from where the plane left for the city of Ontario in the state of California.

“Further inspections will allow us to determine whether the bolts were there,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters.

In December, Boeing advised airlines with the 737 MAX to check the steering system after one company discovered a nut missing from one of its planes.

Boeing, in turn, noticed a poorly secured nut on one of its planes that had not yet been delivered, according to the FAA.

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