• Investing
  • Stock
Round Table Thoughts
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Home Editor's Pick Alaska Airlines CEO: We found ‘many’ loose bolts on our Max 9 planes following near-disaster
Editor's Pick

Alaska Airlines CEO: We found ‘many’ loose bolts on our Max 9 planes following near-disaster

by January 24, 2024
by January 24, 2024 0 comment
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

The CEO of Alaska Airlines said new, in-house inspections of the carrier’s Boeing 737 Max 9 planes in the wake of a near-disaster earlier this month revealed that “many” of the aircraft were found to have loose bolts.

In an exclusive interview with NBC News senior correspondent Tom Costello, Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci discussed the findings of his company’s inspections so far since the Jan. 5 incident, in which a panel on one of its Max 9 jets blew out midair on a flight carrying 177 people.

“I’m more than frustrated and disappointed,” he said. “I am angry. This happened to Alaska Airlines. It happened to our guests and happened to our people. And — my demand on Boeing is what are they going to do to improve their quality programs in-house.”

Read more on this story at NBCNews.com and watch “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” tonight at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT.

Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered all Boeing Max 9 planes grounded and launched a safety investigation. The agency also announced an audit of Boeing’s Max 9 production line and suppliers ‘to evaluate Boeing’s compliance with its approved quality procedures.’ It is also subjecting Boeing, as well as its third-party suppliers, to additional increased monitoring.

The incident also prompted lawmakers to question whether Boeing’s quality control systems are adequate.

“Given the previous tragic crashes of Boeing 737 Max aircraft, we are deeply concerned that the loose bolts represent a systemic issue with Boeing’s capabilities to manufacture safe airplanes,” Sens. Ed Markey, J.D. Vance and Peter Welch wrote to Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun earlier this month.

NBC News senior correspondent Tom Costello interviews Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci. NBC News

There is still no timetable for returning the Boeing-made planes to service because the FAA has not yet issued specific maintenance orders that are required for them to do so.

As a result, Alaska Airlines, whose fleet had the highest percentage of Max 9 planes among any major carrier, has spent weeks canceling and rearranging its schedule, leaving thousands of passengers scrambling.

Minicucci said the onus is now on Boeing to show how it will improve its quality control and prevent such incidents from unfolding in the future. But out of an abundance of caution, he said, Alaska Airlines is incorporating its own additional oversight on the production line at Boeing.

‘We’re sending our audit people to audit their quality control systems and processes to make sure that every aircraft that comes off that production line, that comes to Alaska has the highest levels of excellence and quality,’ he said.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said in a separate interview with CNBC on Wednesday that it is now contemplating a future for its fleet without the Boeing 737 Max 10, a newer version of the popular jet.

Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said the company will send its own audit staff to perform pre-delivery inspections of its planes at Boeing.NBC News

United has also said that it found additional loose bolts on its Max 9 planes.

Minicucci told NBC’s Costello that while Alaska Airlines ‘was’ planning to buy Max 10s, the company will now evaluate ‘what the best long-term strategic plan is for Alaska(‘s) fleet mix’ once the craft is certified.

‘I think everything’s open at this point … for us,’ he said, confirming that Hawaiian Airlines, which Alaska Airlines is in the process of buying, uses planes produced by Boeing’s rival, Airbus. ‘I think we’re going to do what’s best for Alaska long term, in terms of fleet mix for us. It gives us optionality.’

In a statement to NBC News, Boeing said: “We have let down our airline customers and are deeply sorry for the significant disruption to them, their employees and their passengers. We are taking action on a comprehensive plan to bring these airplanes safely back to service and to improve our quality and delivery performance. We will follow the lead of the FAA and support our customers every step of the way.”

Boeing has lost 19% of its market capitalization over the past month.

Minicucci, who became president of Alaska Airlines in 2016 and began his career as an engineer, said he was ‘incredulous’ that something like the incident earlier this month could even happen.

‘I knew that this was an issue out of the (Boeing) factory,’ he said. ‘There was no question in my mind.’

‘And it’s clear to me that we received an airplane from Boeing with a faulty door. Now the NTSB investigation is going to figure out why that was a faulty door, whether it was bad installation, missing hardware, a manufacturing issue, but there’s no doubt that Alaska received an airplane off the production line with a faulty door,’ Minicucci said, referring to the National Transportation Safety Board’s probe.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
You Might Also Like
  • Rising car crash deaths could force companies to rethink stunt driving in commercials
  • East and Gulf coast ports shut down as thousands of workers go on strike
  • Ex-CEO of firm that merged with Trump Media accused of fraud
  • Amazon and Nvidia say AI data center demand is not slowing down
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

previous post
RFK Jr promotes workout challenge for voters as Trump, Biden’s fitness becomes issue in 2024 race
next post
S&P 500 Still SUPER Undervalued!

You may also like

Lordstown Motors files for bankruptcy, sues Foxconn

June 29, 2023

Coca-Cola takes on Olipop and Poppi with new prebiotic soda...

February 19, 2025

The Dow just hit 40,000. Here’s a look at how...

May 18, 2024

Vanguard fined more than $100 million by SEC over violations...

January 17, 2025

Inflation is down, but a return to ‘normal’ prices is...

August 10, 2023

Mortgage rates hit a 22-year high as demand drops

August 18, 2023

CNN names former New York Times CEO Mark Thompson as...

August 31, 2023

Pod Group, SODAQ, and Lufthansa Industry Solutions launch the first...

January 4, 2023

GM reports best U.S. quarterly sales since 2020

July 3, 2024

Over 1.5 million dehumidifiers recalled due to fire and burn...

August 19, 2023

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Krispy Kreme stock plunges after doughnut chain pauses McDonald’s rollout, pulls outlook

      May 8, 2025
    • Don’t Buy Robinhood Stock… Until You See This Chart Setup

      May 8, 2025
    • UnitedHealthcare sued by shareholders over reaction to CEO’s killing

      May 8, 2025
    • The Unpredictable Stock Market: How to Make Sense of It

      May 8, 2025
    • AMD CEO calls China a ‘large opportunity’ and warns against strict U.S. chip controls

      May 7, 2025

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be...

      June 27, 2024 2,631 views
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as...

      August 9, 2024 2,339 views
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese...

      June 25, 2024 2,320 views
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful...

      July 10, 2024 2,302 views
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility...

      August 29, 2024 2,186 views

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,066)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,530)

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be revived under new House GOP bill

      June 27, 2024
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as Harris camp blasts ‘lying’ critics

      August 9, 2024
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese businesses to Delaware: ‘Longtime friends’

      June 25, 2024
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful of Chinese spy threats

      July 10, 2024
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility that collaborated with ‘Chinese military company’

      August 29, 2024

    Latest News

    • Krispy Kreme stock plunges after doughnut chain pauses McDonald’s rollout,...

      May 8, 2025
    • Don’t Buy Robinhood Stock… Until You See This Chart Setup

      May 8, 2025
    • UnitedHealthcare sued by shareholders over reaction to CEO’s killing

      May 8, 2025

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,066)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,530)

    Disclaimer: RoundTableThoughts.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 RoundTableThoughts.com. All Rights Reserved.

    Round Table Thoughts
    • Investing
    • Stock
    Round Table Thoughts
    • Economy
    • Editor’s Pick

    Read alsox

    GameStop, MicroStrategy shares rise after Ryan...

    February 11, 2025

    Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, says...

    August 11, 2023

    Netflix kills off cheapest no-ads plan...

    July 20, 2023
    Sign In

    Keep me signed in until I sign out

    Forgot your password?

    Password Recovery

    A new password will be emailed to you.

    Have received a new password? Login here