On January 5, 2024, Alaska Airlines grounded its fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft following an incident where a door plug detached during Flight 1282 from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California. The airline expressed gratitude for the crew's professionalism in ensuring passenger safety.
Following the incident, Alaska Airlines' quality and audit team conducted a review of Boeing's production quality and control systems. They enhanced their oversight by adding experienced team members to validate work on the Boeing 737 production line.
Brooke Vatheuer, Alaska’s Vice President of Audit Programs, provided an update on the progress made since the incident. "This event changed our airline and our industry," she said. The airline has focused on safety and compliance improvements in collaboration with Boeing and other partners.