United Airlines said Monday that it had found loose bolts in panels to its Boeing 737 Max 9 jets that are similar to the part of an Alaska Airlines plane that blew out during a flight Friday, adding to growing safety concerns about the Max 9.
The disclosure followed reports that Alaska Airlines had been warned three times about problems with cabin pressure on its plane. Those warnings were significant enough that the airline decided the plane could no longer be used on flights to Hawaii.
United found the loose bolts in the panels, known as plugs in the industry, after starting to take out seats and sidewall liners to inspect the part this weekend, the airline said Monday. The plugs are placed where an emergency exit door would be if a jet had more seats.
