Systemic failures led to a door plug flying off a Boeing 737 Max, NTSB says

UNDATED-AP- The National Transportation Safety Board chairwoman says heroic actions by the crew aboard an Alaska Airlines flight ensured everyone survived last year when the door plug panel blew out of the plane. But Jennifer Homendy said Tuesday (June 24, 2025) that the incident never should have happened. She says Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration could have done more to ensure the safety of the Boeing 737 Max. The NTSB had already revealed that bolts were never replaced after the door plug was removed during a repair. Homendy now says Boeing’s new CEO has made many safety improvements since last summer, but that more needs to be done.