United finds loose bolts on grounded Boeing planes

United Airlines announced on Monday that initial inspections of its grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 jets exposed loose bolts in the same aircraft part that blew out mid-air on an Alaska Airlines flight last week.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes, ordering mandatory inspections.

It is during such examinations that United also found, in some cases, bolts required additional tightening.

The findings have raised concerns about a systemic problem with Boeing flights and challenged its reputation.

Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues its investigation into the Alaska Airlines incident, gathering evidence that’s scattered across the Portland area.

One such is an iPhone that survived the 16,000-foot fall from the plane. Discovered by a passerby, the phone’s screen displayed flight details.

The NTSB confirmed it as one of the objects sucked out during the explosive depressurization accident. Experts credit its survival to falling on cushiony grass.