KLANG – The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has offered its assistance to the Asia-Pacific branch of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to investigate the recent incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke revealed that the door plug in question was indeed a Malaysian product, but emphasised that its usage had been approved by the FAA.
“CAAM has reached out to FAA Asia Pacific in Singapore to offer our assistance, should they need it,” Loke told a press conference held after officiating the Costa Serena cruise at Port Klang Cruise Terminal today.
“Even though the report states that it is manufactured in Malaysia, the product’s approval falls under the jurisdiction of the FAA.”
Loke added that while the FAA has yet to respond regarding the assistance offered, they would reach out if needed.
Yesterday, the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that the Boeing 737 Max 9 door plug that dislodged on an Alaska Airlines flight was indeed manufactured in Malaysia.
Last week, Loke said the ministry was still in the dark about the door plug, citing a lack of reports from the airline.
The incident resulted in a hole in the aircraft’s fuselage, exposing passengers to open air. Bob Sauer, a Portland teacher, discovered the door plug in his backyard, noticing that the equipment’s serial number and manufacturing details appeared to be handwritten in permanent marker.
These details included its line unit number of 8799 and confirmation of its manufacture in Malaysia. When questioned about the handwritten details, aircraft manufacturer Boeing declined to comment, citing the ongoing aviation investigation.
Supplier Spirit AeroSystems also refrained from commenting on the incident, aside from its initial statement addressing the quality and product integrity of the aircraft structures it delivers. – January 19, 2024