Chamor

Does anyone know whether WN has the plugged door configuration on the 737 max, which caused a big problem for AS yesterday when the plug didn’t hold?

LegalTender

WN doesn't operate MAX 9, as far as I know.

LegalTender

Hoping they locate the missing door.

Pilot forums see a silver lining:

CA1900

No. That extra pair of exits is specific to the Max9 and the -900ER, neither of which WN operates. I don't believe any US carrier uses those additional exits because the planes aren't set up in a high-density configuration that would require them, so they're plugged.

WebTraveler

No one is going to want to sit in this seat going forward. Especially the window

jjbiv

While that may be true for some folks (and maybe the same crowd who won't sit in a seat in row 13), it's not necessarily a logical conclusion. The 737-900ER (and more recently MAX -9) have been in service with plugged exits for years without incident. I would sit in the window seat next to a plugged exit on any flight any day. Perhaps it might be wise to avoid this seat on a newer build MAX -9 for a bit until we have a good grasp of the root cause.

It's a bit of a moot point now anyway, Reference: https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boeing-737-max-9s-grounded-after-alaska-airlines-in-flight-blowout/

jmw

All of them are grounded anyway until a real inspection specific to the plug is done. So worries about sitting in the death seat or death row.

I'm more concerned about the lack of safety culture at Boeing being replaced with the desire to minimize expenses for maximum profits which seems to have continued unabated to 2024. Only God (or insert favorite deity) and MacGyver workaround like the new manual shutoff switch for MCAS has prevented another fatal incident. The FAA seems complicit to this bad behavior. This means the whole 737 Max including those flown by Southwest has been a continual dumpster fire and not just the Max 9. I fly enough Max to have had a 737 Max part fall on my head while I was trying to take a nap. It's the modern version of the Ford Pinto case. Ford Pintos in general were very bad due to cost cutting and not just the fuel tank issue. Same with Boeing.

Despite that, I rather sit in any 737 Max than an Uber, Greyhound, Amtrak, or my car. But if it was viable to switch from a Max to a non-Max on Southwest without disrupting my schedule much, I would.

dlaue

I believe the MAX9 can configured to hold 200 passengers by removing the aft lavatories and both galleys. The extra exit rows are necessary to evacuate 200 people in 90 seconds with 1/2 or more of the emergency doors in use.

NoStressHere

Not sure if you can even tell from the inside. Pictures?

jjbiv

There is no way to tell unless you happen to know which row it is.

Ask almost any 737 pilot and they will tell you the MAXes are great flying aircraft. The MCAS debacle was a non-issue in the US and with crews of similar experience levels in other countries, too.

LegalTender

Experience levels absolutely matter.

But with a recurring pressurization warning light, the airline needs to do more than restrict service to overland routes.

The flying door plug has been found in a school teacher’s backyard. Amazingly, two mobile phones from the flight were also found.

The one with light showing through?

dc2

I wondered about this, too.

"The air pressurization warning light went off on December 7, January 3 and January 4. Homendy said the crews reported it each time, the system was tested and reset."“We have record they were tested and then reset by maintenance personnel,” Homendy said.

Alaska Airlines decided to restrict the aircraft from long flights over water so the plane “could return very quickly to an airport” if the warning light reappeared, Homendy said.
https://www.koin.com/news/oregon/nts...door-01072024/
Hmmm. I was wondering if any of the other grounded 737 max 9's flight wide might have also experienced faults on the air pressurization?

It said Alaska decided to restrict the aircraft from long flights over the water due to the faults, but I was wondering if this is discretionary to the airlines? I thought ETOPS had pretty stringent rules?

Out of my Element

I knew "Find My Phone" was a strong app. I didn't know there was also a "Find My Door" app!

Boraxo

I don't trust any of the MAX planes (clearly with good reason) and can usually avoid them on my WN routes. But good to know none will be afflicted by the latest flaw.

Row 26, as reported in AS forum. I don't think that will be popular now.

WebTraveler

You can't tell from the inside. But we know it's there now.