UAL - Alaska Airlines Aircraft That Experienced Midair Incident Reportedly Departed Boeing Factory Without Essential Bolts | Benzinga
An Alaska Air Group Inc (NYSE:ALK) aircraft that encountered an in-flight issue appears to have left the Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) factory without crucial bolts, insiders reveal.
What Happened: Officials from the aviation industry, including representatives from Boeing, are increasingly convinced that the missing bolts, which were meant to secure a part of the jet that detached in flight, were not installed during the manufacturing process at the Boeing factory, reported Wall Street Journal on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Speculation arose after the absence of bolt marks on the door plug of the Alaska Airlines jet when it separated from the plane mid-flight over Oregon on Jan. 5. Furthermore, irregularities in paperwork and protocols at Boeing’s Renton, Washington plant, related to the door plug work, have been noted.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is examining the plug door but has yet to release the test results, which could determine if the bolts were present or absent. An update on ...