And somehow no one seated by the plug….or perhaps they blocked those seats…ya know, just in case!

They found the door plug.

Also, they found three cell phones that got sucked out.

I’m amazed, only four bolts held the plug in. How does that compare to the normal locking mechanism used on an active door.

Fortunately, the two seats next to the plug were not occupied. That said, it had to be pretty traumatizing for everybody on board.

can't go overseas...but ok otherwise?

i kinda feel like maybe the safety bar is set a bit low there.

The flight data recorder which records flight parameter data will supply info. It is the voice recorder which records communication data that is on a 2 hour loop that has been lost. The failure to pull the circuit breaker in a timely manner after the event has led to the tape looping back. Previous aircraft that I have flown have referenced the need to pull the CVR circuit breaker on the shutdown checklist if there had been an issue with the flight.

Apparently your iPhone can fall 16,000 feet and be working fine, no damage, plenty of battery life.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-08/iphone-survives-16-000-foot-fall-helps-narrow-jet-panel-search?sref=eCUg41rA

OK, so why the looped, limited recording of voice with todays tech?

Ask the FAA

I hear other planes have been found with loose door plug bolts. Will Boeing be able to find out who torqued each of the door bolts so they can recheck every bolt the mechanic/wrench tightened? Is this a maintenance item that was touched by an airline mechanic?

Every task on a plane being built is documented, who did the work and the bolts in question, should’ve been checked by internal inspectors.

That said, after only being operational for a few months, I wouldn’t think anybody would have been checking the plug bolts.

Ok. The four bolts do not physically hold the plug to the aircraft. They are safety bolts which prevent the plug from slipping off the latch ramps at the top and the spring loaded hinges at the bottom (one of which if pictured above).
There are also 6 pairs of tabs on the plug and the opening frame which are engaged as the plug is dropped into place against spring tension. The tabs distribute the force of internal air pressure around the perimeter of the plug.
In the image of the hinge and securing bolt, note the castellated nut and cotter pin.
It has been noted when the aircraft are shipped, the plugs are in place and may be removed while the cabin is being configured by the airline.
FAA is directing the bolts should be retorqued.
My guess is either in assembly before the aircraft is shipped or after cabin configuration the cotter pins have not been installed on the castellated nuts, allowing the nuts to vibrate off the securing bolts which would allow bolts to drop out of their positions. If that happens on the top latch positions, vibration would allow spring tension to unlatch the plug. At that point, at speed and altitude, the lower hinge components would certainly fail.

Best
Les

"for want of a shoe the horse is lost"

Bolts? what bolts?

Somehow, the plug on Alaska 1282 moved upward, NTSB’s Clint Crookshanks explained at a news conference Monday night.

“We have not yet recovered the four bolts that restrain it from his vertical movement and we have not yet determined if they existed there,” Crookshanks said. “That will be determined when we take the plug to our lab.”

I'm hearing that several airlines are finding loose bolts. If it is so widespread maybe it's more than just poor maintenance. Could it be poor specs?

I'm still amazed that the kid seated near that door didn't get blown out.

Another good reason to ALWAYS keep your seatbelt buckled.

This is the scariest bit of info in this whole story. Basically an early warning system that was working, was ignored? Well, not ignored, just don't take it over water, but failing over land is ok.

One pelican is conspicuously absent in this thread… I’m sure he has an interesting perspective to share on this situation that I would love to hear.

Right?

If it's Boeing...I ain't going. :)

The two seats next to the door plug were vacant during the flight. Was that in addition to the directive to not fly over water or just luck?