The Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft that lost its door plug midair during an Alaska Airlines flight in January won’t be returning to service at Alaska Airlines. SimpleFlying.com says Alaska Airlines has entered into an agreement for that aircraft, tail number N704AL, to be returned to Boeing and its registration has already been changed. While the jet may end up with another company, Alaska Airlines doesn’t want it back, so Boeing has accepted it as a return. It had only been in service for a couple of months when the door plug left the plane as it was climbing out of Portland, Ore. on Jan. 6.
Boeing paid an initial $160 million to Alaska Airlines as compensation for the blow-out to help cover some of the airline’s costs that were related to losing that aircraft from service. Boeing also gave Alaska Airlines $61 million in credits toward a future jet purchase.
The airline has ordered a MAX 10 model to replace the returned aircraft.
Numerous lawsuits, including a class action lawsuit from passengers, have been filed. According to attorneys for passenger Cuong Tran, Tran’s shoes and socks were pulled off of him by the force of rapid depressurization of the aircraft cabin when the door plug blew off. Tran was saved from being sucked out of the jet because he had his seatbelt tightly fastened.
“He felt his body lift off the seat and his legs were pulled towards the opening,” the lawsuit says.
