On January 5, 2023, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max experienced a midflight panel blowout, causing chaos as the cockpit door was blown open and the co-pilot's headset was torn off.

The incident has prompted multiple investigations, with the FBI notifying passengers and crew members that they may be considered victims of a crime due to potential criminal charges against Boeing.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a two-day investigative hearing, releasing over 3,000 pages of documents related to the accident.

During the hearing, the NTSB questioned Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems about their production processes and error correction procedures.

Concerns were raised by a flight attendant regarding a lack of communication with the flight deck, which contributed to fears among the crew.

Despite the chaos, including the deployment of oxygen masks and objects being blown out of the aircraft, there were no major injuries reported among passengers and crew.

Investigations revealed that four essential bolts had been removed by Boeing during post-production work, which were originally in place when the fuselage was delivered by supplier Spirit.

The NTSB identified that the aircraft was delivered to Alaska Airlines without the necessary bolts after Boeing conducted maintenance on adjacent areas.

In response to ongoing issues, the FAA has increased oversight of Boeing's manufacturing processes, which has led to significant financial losses for the company.

This incident has resulted in a significant financial and reputational crisis for Boeing, intensifying pressure on the company to improve its quality control processes.

Amidst these challenges, Boeing is considering reacquiring Spirit AeroSystems to bring it back under its corporate umbrella.

In June, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker acknowledged that the agency had been 'too hands off' in overseeing Boeing prior to the incident.