The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause of the January 2024 door plug blowout on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 was Boeing’s failure to adequately train, guide, and oversee its factory workers. An investigation found that the four bolts required to secure the door plug were missing before the incident occurred, which caused the aircraft to rapidly depressurize, injuring one flight attendant and seven passengers. The NTSB report also noted that Boeing had no record of who was responsible for removing and reinstalling the plug. Additionally, the board found the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was ineffective in ensuring Boeing addressed systemic issues with its parts removal process and issued new safety recommendations to both entities.
