US investigators recover key part from Alaska Airlines 737 MAX jet that suffered mid-air blowout

Missing door ‘plug’ from 737 MAX 9 plane was found in a backyard near Portland, Oregon, two days after Friday’s incident

Boeing jetliner was restricted from making long flights because of concern over pressurisation warnings on three earlier flights

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The plug door tore off the left side of an Alaska Airlines jet on Friday following takeoff. Photo: Elizabeth Le via AP

Published: 2:49pm, 8 Jan 2024Updated: 2:57pm, 8 Jan 2024

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said late on Sunday the “key missing component” from the Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet involved in an Alaska Airlines emergency landing had been recovered from the backyard of a suburban home.

The plug door tore off the left side of an Alaska Airlines jet on Friday following take-off from Portland, Oregon, en route to Ontario, California, depressurising the plane and forcing pilots to turn back and land safely with all 171 passengers and six crew on board.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Saturday ordered the temporary grounding of 171 Boeing MAX 9 jets installed with the same panel, which weighs about 27kg (60 pounds) and covers an optional exit door mainly used by low-cost airlines.

The missing plug door was recovered on Sunday by a Portland teacher identified only as “Bob” in the Cedar Hills neighbourhood who found it in his backyard, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said, saying she was “very relieved” it had been found.

The damaged part of the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9. Photo: AP

She had earlier told reporters the aircraft part was a “key missing component” to determine why the accident occurred.