NTSB Chair Provides Update on Alaska Airlines Incident Investigation
In a Sunday night update on the ongoing investigation into the Alaska Airlines incident, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy revealed both setbacks and positive developments. The cockpit voice recorder, crucial for understanding the events leading to the door detachment midflight, was unfortunately taped over, described by Homendy as “a loss for us” and for safety.
On a more positive note, a key piece of evidence, a missing door plug central to the investigation, was discovered in the backyard of a Portland, Oregon-area resident. Identified only as Bob, a schoolteacher, he sent two photos of the item to the NTSB. Homendy expressed gratitude, saying, “Thank you, Bob,” and announced plans to pick up the door plug for analysis.
In addition to the door plug, two cell phones were found—one in a yard and another on the side of the road, adding potential valuable information to the investigation.
Homendy acknowledged the complications faced during the investigation, highlighting that the cockpit voice recorder’s data had been inadvertently overwritten. She emphasized the need to expand the minimum recording time on such devices from two hours to 25 hours, a change that could have preserved critical voice data from the incident.
The NTSB chair described the chaotic situation aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, with communication issues arising after a loud noise was heard, and the cabin rapidly depressurized over the Portland area. The cockpit door violently opened during explosive decompression, and a laminated checklist flew out. The flight crew, dealing with communication problems, displayed remarkable actions in handling the emergency.
Alaska Airlines plane’s missing door plug found in Portland teacher’s backyard https://t.co/HaWgtHCq4h pic.twitter.com/qjKtv2l7qS
— New York Post (@nypost) January 8, 2024
Homendy expressed concern about the damage inside the plane, including violently torqued seats and missing headrests. The investigation also focuses on three infants held in caregivers’ laps, stressing the importance of following recommendations for young children to travel in separate, ticketed seats secured in car seats.
The FAA has grounded some Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes globally, affecting 171 planes, following the incident. The investigation continues to analyze the door plug’s fastening, air pressurization alerts preceding the incident, and the structural integrity of the aircraft. Homendy highlighted the importance of understanding how the door plug was fastened and whether any failures were related to it.