In a recent report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), it has been revealed that bolts were missing from a door plug that blew out midair on a Boeing 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines. The incident, which occurred on January 5, resulted in a significant hole in the fuselage of the aircraft while it was flying at an altitude of approximately 16,000 feet.

The door plug in question is designed to seal an unused emergency exit. According to the NTSB's preliminary report, the absence of certain bolts contributed to the upward movement of the door plug, causing it to detach from its intended position. The report states, "Overall, the observed damage patterns and absence of contact damage or deformation around holes associated with the vertical movement arrestor bolts and upper guide track bolts... indicate that four bolts that prevent upward movement of the MED plug were missing before the MED plug moved upward off the stop pads."

As a result of this incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the Boeing 737 Max 9 for a significant portion of last month. However, most of the Max 9 planes in the United States have since returned to service.

This preliminary report places the responsibility for the incident squarely on Boeing, with the CEO, Dave Calhoun, acknowledging the company's responsibility for the issue. Calhoun stated during an earnings call on January 31, "We caused the problem. Over these last few weeks, I've had tough conversations with our customers, with our regulators, congressional leaders and more. We understand why they are angry, and we will work to earn their confidence."

In response to the incident and ongoing concerns, the FAA is currently conducting an audit on Boeing's production lines. Last month, the FAA announced that it would prevent Boeing from increasing production of the bestselling Max jet beyond the current rate of 38 per month until regulators are satisfied with the company's production processes. It is worth noting that this incident occurred as Boeing was working towards ramping up its production output.

As of now, this incident highlights the need for thorough safety inspections and precautions, ensuring the reliability and integrity of aircraft before they are handed over to airlines. The NTSB's investigation into Flight 1282 is ongoing, and additional updates will be provided as new information emerges.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the preliminary report released by the NTSB and the provided information. Further developments and updates may follow.