In Pictures

Gallery|Aviation

The turbulent journey of the Boeing 737

Max 9 jets combed for door flaws at a time when the global industry debates the safety of passenger planes with only one pilot.

History Illustrated

By Danylo Hawaleshka

History Illustrated is a weekly series of insightful perspectives that puts news events and current affairs into historical context using graphics generated with artificial intelligence.

The 737 is the best selling passenger jet that Boeing has ever produced — over 10,000 built since 1967, with the Max series representing the jet’s fourth generation. But the 737 is in trouble. Again. And warning signs may have been missed. Again. — The 737 is the best-selling passenger jet that Boeing has ever produced - more than 10,000 have been built since 1967, with the Max series representing the jet’s fourth generation. But the 737 is in trouble. Again. And warning signs may have been missed. Again.

Advertisement

On January 5, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 took off from Portland, Oregon. Suddenly, a loud explosive decompression jolted the jet, and created such a strong vortex, it ripped the co-pilot’s headset off her head.

Where once there was a window, the 737 Max 9 now had a gaping hole. A ‘door plug’ on an unused emergency exit had blown out. Calmly, the pilot returned her aircraft to the airport and made a safe emergency landing — saving all 177 people on board. — Where once there was a window, the 737 Max 9 now had a gaping hole. A ‘door plug’ on an unused emergency exit had blown out. Calmly, the pilots returned their aircraft to the airport and made a safe emergency landing - saving all 177 people on board.

All Max 9s configured with door plugs were grounded, and inspections soon found loose bolts on some planes at two airlines. The National Transportation Safety Board also reported the damaged aircraft had had pressure warning lights triggered on three previous flights, but was still cleared to fly. — All Max 9s configured with door plugs were grounded, and inspections soon found loose bolts on some planes at two airlines. The United States' National Transportation Safety Board also reported the damaged aircraft had had pressure warning lights triggered on three previous flights, but was still cleared to fly.

Late on January 7, investigators recovered the missing 27-kg door panel from someone’s backyard. While the cause of the failure is investigated, the affected Max 9s will remain grounded. — Late on January 7, investigators recovered the missing 27kg door panel from someone’s backyard. While the cause of the failure is investigated, the affected Max 9s will remain grounded.

Previously, all of Boeing’s Max jets had been grounded for almost two years because of two crashes — one in the Java Sea in 2018, one in Ethiopia in 2019. Both were later blamed on flawed software that compromised the pilot controls. — Previously, all of Boeing’s Max jets had been grounded for almost two years because of two crashes - one in the Java Sea in 2018, one in Ethiopia in 2019. Both were later blamed on flawed software that compromised the pilot controls.

Advertisement

As if all that wasn’t enough, the pilots of a 737-800 All Nippon Airways domestic flight in Japan, on January 13, spotted a cracked cockpit windshield, and had to return to their departure airport. The ANA jet did not lose pressure, unlike Alaskan Airlines flight 1282.

The professionalism of flight 1282’s pilots — as yet unnamed — suggests the importance of having two aviators collaborate in an emergency, at a time when manufacturers like Airbus want to transition to planes with just one pilot, to cut costs. — The professionalism of flight 1282’s pilots - as yet unnamed - suggests the importance of having two aviators collaborate in an emergency, at a time when manufacturers like Airbus want to transition to planes with just one pilot, to cut costs.

The so-called Miracle on the Hudson, in 2009, is credited to the teamwork of Capt. Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles. Last year, Sullenberger argued having just one pilot is a very bad idea. “Make no mistake, removing pilots will introduce more risk and make flying less safe,” Sullenberger said. To the people on Alaska Airlines flight 1282, that almost certainly makes a lot of sense. — The so-called Miracle on the Hudson, in 2009, is credited to the teamwork of Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles. Last year, Sullenberger argued having just one pilot was a very bad idea. 'Make no mistake, removing pilots will introduce more risk and make flying less safe,' Sullenberger said. To the people on Alaska Airlines flight 1282, that almost certainly makes a lot of sense.