Boeing's 737 MAX reckoning: the door plug blowout and the crash case

Gone quiet · last story Aug 6, 2026

What this arc covers

Boeing's reckoning over its 737 MAX jets: the January 2024 blowout of a door plug on an Alaska Airlines flight, the grounding of Max 9 jets and the loose bolts airlines found in them, the investigators' finding that the plug's bolts were missing, the cost to airlines, the FAA's stepped-up oversight and its audit of Boeing's production, the criminal investigation and the passengers' lawsuits, the ouster of the head of the 737 program and chief executive Dave Calhoun's plan to step down, its talks to buy the supplier Spirit AeroSystems, the death of a whistleblower, the congressional hearings with its chief executive, the Justice Department's finding that it broke the deal that spared it prosecution over the 2018 and 2019 crashes, its 2024 guilty plea deal and a judge's rejection of it, its 2025 agreement that avoided prosecution and the case's dismissal, the lawsuits by families of crash victims, its new chief executive, and the FAA's later orders on the jets.

Earliest story we hold Jan 6, 2024 · 103 stories · 367 independent sources (counted once each) · 943 days

Part ofBoeingAlaskaUnited States Department of JusticePortlandNational Transportation Safety BoardOregonSpirit AeroSystemsSouth CarolinaFederal Aviation Administration

Part of Boeing

  1. Boeing's 737 MAX reckoning: the door plug blowout and the crash caseThis arcJan 6, 2024 – Aug 6, 2026
  2. The Starliner astronauts stranded in space for nine monthsMay 2, 2024 – Feb 19, 2026
  3. The 2024 strike by Boeing's machinistsSep 6 – Nov 16, 2024
  4. The 2025 strike by workers at Boeing's defense plants in the MidwestJul 27 – Nov 13, 2025

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Aug 6– 82026FAA orders crack inspections for hundreds of Boeing 737 Max jets69 articles · 27 independent sources
2 left, 5 center, 2 right
Aug 3– 52026FAA certifies Boeing 737 MAX-7 to fly after years of delays58 articles · 16 independent sources
3 left, 5 center, 0 right
Jul 282026FAA flags possible issue affecting seats on hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX jets53 articles · 13 independent sources
2 left, 3 center, 0 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Jan 6 – 8, 2024Alaska Airlines again grounds all Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners as more maintenance may be needed152 articles · 64 independent sources
    1. Jan 6, 2024Federal officials order grounding of some Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners after plane suffers a blowout
    2. Jan 8, 2024Local travelers react to Alaska Airlines announcement to ground Boeing 737 Max 9 Aircrafts
  2. Feb 6 – 7, 2024Bolts were missing from the door plug that blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9, NTBS says74 articles · 41 independent sources
  3. Mar 25, 2024Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun to step down at year's end129 articles · 75 independent sources
  4. May 14 – 15, 2024Justice Department says Boeing violated deal that avoided prosecution after 737 Max crashes65 articles · 49 independent sources
  5. Jul 1 – 2, 2024Boeing to buy Spirit AeroSystems for $4.7 billion68 articles · 46 independent sources
  6. Jul 8 – 9, 2024Boeing agrees to plead guilty over 737 MAX crashes, avoids trial99 articles · 65 independent sources
  7. Jul 31, 2024Boeing names its next CEO while posting a quarterly loss of more than $1.4 billion67 articles · 47 independent sources

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Jan 2024Jul 2024Jan 2025Jul 2025Jan 2026Aug 2026

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Jan 1, 2024144210233
Jan 8, 2024224610341
Jan 15, 202428332
Jan 22, 202411346191
Jan 29, 202425014
Feb 5, 202410257127
Feb 19, 2024215435
Feb 26, 2024816463
Mar 4, 2024614767
Mar 11, 2024192617165
Mar 18, 2024811554
Mar 25, 2024172511123
Apr 1, 202447526
Apr 8, 2024510449
Apr 15, 2024618368
Apr 22, 202422411
Apr 29, 202486941
May 6, 2024310539
May 13, 202482012102
May 27, 202412128
Jun 10, 202458229
Jun 17, 2024715354
Jun 24, 2024610461
Jul 1, 20241220499
Jul 8, 20249208102
Jul 22, 2024211648
Jul 29, 20241014866
Dec 2, 2024411434
Mar 17, 202534715
Mar 24, 20250308
May 19, 202557539
Jun 23, 20251205
Jul 7, 202513114
Jul 28, 20251225
Sep 1, 202504121
Sep 8, 202525216
Nov 3, 20252317
Nov 10, 20250419
May 11, 20261216
Jul 13, 202602121
Jul 27, 202623053
Aug 3, 20265102126

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

23% left · 68% center · 9% right of 367 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 103 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. January 2024

    Jan 6– 7Boeing faces new questions about the 737 Max after a plane suffers a gaping hole in its side23 articles · 17 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 1 right
  2. Jan 6Alaska Airlines grounds 737-9 aircraft after midair window blowout on flight from Portland, Oregon57 articles · 37 independent sources
    2 left, 15 center, 6 right
  3. Jan 6Boeing seeking federal safety exemption for its 737 Max airliner10 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  4. Jan 6– 11Alaska Airlines cancels all flights on the Boeing 737 Max 9 through Saturday46 articles · 33 independent sources
    8 left, 9 center, 4 right
  5. Jan 6– 8Alaska Airlines again grounds all Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners as more maintenance may be needed152 articles · 64 independent sources
    11 left, 28 center, 6 right
  6. Jan 7– 9Missing part of Alaska Airlines jet is found in Oregon, NTSB says, as airlines find loose hardware on Max 9s28 articles · 13 independent sources
    0 left, 9 center, 0 right
  7. Jan 7– 8Boeing issues 737 Max 9 inspection instructions, a key step toward resuming flights7 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
  8. Jan 8– 9United Airlines found loose bolts, other issues on a key part of grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners24 articles · 20 independent sources
    5 left, 6 center, 4 right
  9. Jan 8United Airlines finds loose bolts on several Boeing 737 Max 9s after grounding6 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  10. Jan 8Canceled flights are piling up as Alaska and United are stuck without their grounded Boeing jets12 articles · 11 independent sources
    3 left, 1 center, 2 right
  11. Jan 8Boeing stock plunges after a piece of fuselage on a Boeing 737 Max 9 blew out mid-flight11 articles · 8 independent sources
    2 left, 4 center, 1 right
  12. Jan 8Boeing jetliner that suffered inflight blowout was restricted because of concern over warning light28 articles · 22 independent sources
    3 left, 4 center, 1 right
  13. Jan 8– 9Missing door ‘plug’ may hold vital clues to how a gaping hole blew open on Alaska Air jetliner63 articles · 29 independent sources
    2 left, 16 center, 4 right
  14. Jan 9Airlines say they found loose parts in door panels during inspections of Boeing Max 9 jets19 articles · 14 independent sources
    1 left, 4 center, 0 right
  15. Jan 10Boeing CEO: Alaska Airlines incident 'our mistake,' vows transparency6 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  16. Jan 10– 17Alaska Airlines passengers sue over door plug blowout: 'This is the end'18 articles · 10 independent sources
    1 left, 6 center, 3 right
  17. Jan 10Investigation into why a panel blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet focuses on missing bolts13 articles · 13 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 1 right
  18. Jan 11US is investigating if Boeing made sure a part that blew off a jet was made to design standards26 articles · 11 independent sources
    2 left, 4 center, 0 right
  19. Jan 12US intensifies oversight of Boeing, will begin production audits after latest mishap for planemaker11 articles · 11 independent sources
    3 left, 1 center, 0 right
  20. Jan 12FAA announces increase in oversight on Boeing production8 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  21. Jan 12FAA says it will increase oversight of Boeing and audit 737 Max 9 production28 articles · 11 independent sources
    2 left, 6 center, 1 right
  22. Jan 15Boeing to increase quality inspections on 737-Max following Alaska Airlines blow out12 articles · 9 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 1 right
  23. Jan 18A federal official says the part that blew off a jetliner was made in Malaysia by a Boeing supplier9 articles · 9 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  24. Jan 22– 23United Airlines expects to lose money in the first quarter due to the grounding of Boeing Max 9 jets11 articles · 8 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
  25. Jan 22Federal officials recommend that airlines inspect door plugs on some older Boeing jets as well - The Daily Reporter50 articles · 30 independent sources
    3 left, 10 center, 3 right
  26. Jan 23– 24Alaska Airlines CEO: We found 'many' loose bolts on our Max 9 planes following near-disaster18 articles · 13 independent sources
    3 left, 4 center, 3 right
  27. Jan 23United Airlines CEO says the airline will consider alternatives to Boeing's next airplane17 articles · 13 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 1 right
  28. Jan 23– 24At United and Alaska airlines, frustration with Boeing's manufacturing problems is boiling over11 articles · 9 independent sources
    2 left, 4 center, 2 right
  29. Jan 25– 28Alaska Airlines has resumed flying Boeing 737 MAX 9, and United Airlines is set to follow suit36 articles · 26 independent sources
    5 left, 10 center, 1 right
  30. Jan 25The FAA lays out a path for Boeing 737 Max 9 to fly again, but new concerns surface11 articles · 9 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 1 right
  31. Jan 25Alaska Airlines says the grounding of some Boeing planes will cost the airline $150 million13 articles · 12 independent sources
    1 left, 4 center, 1 right
  32. Jan 25FAA approves inspection process that could clear the way for grounded Boeing planes to fly again26 articles · 16 independent sources
    0 left, 4 center, 0 right
  33. Jan 30Boeing withdraws safety exemption request amid growing scrutiny after 737 Max incident14 articles · 11 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 0 right

  34. February 2024

    Feb 5Boeing Finds More Problems With 737 Max, Risking Delivery Delays11 articles · 11 independent sources
    3 left, 2 center, 4 right
  35. Feb 5Boeing flags potential delays after supplier finds another problem with some 737 fuselages31 articles · 18 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 1 right
  36. Feb 6– 7Bolts were missing from the door plug that blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9, NTBS says74 articles · 41 independent sources
    6 left, 19 center, 5 right
  37. Feb 6FAA chief pledges to hold Boeing accountable for any violations of safety rules6 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  38. Feb 8– 9‘Whistling sound’ heard on previous Boeing Max 9 flight before door plug blowout, lawsuit alleges8 articles · 8 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 1 right
  39. Feb 21– 22Boeing ousts head of 737 jetliner program weeks after panel blowout on a flight over Oregon36 articles · 35 independent sources
    2 left, 15 center, 4 right
  40. Feb 26– 27Boeing’s safety culture is 'inadequate' and 'confusing', new FAA report finds18 articles · 18 independent sources
    4 left, 6 center, 2 right
  41. Feb 28– 29Boeing given 90 days by FAA to come up with a plan to improve safety and manufacturing quality20 articles · 19 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 1 right
  42. Feb 29Justice Department probing Boeing midair door plug blowout9 articles · 2 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 0 right

  43. March 2024

    Mar 1– 2Boeing is in talks to buy Spirit AeroSystems, key 737 Max supplier12 articles · 12 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 1 right
  44. Mar 3– 4Passengers sue Boeing, Alaska Airlines for $1 billion over mid-air door panel blowout19 articles · 13 independent sources
    3 left, 4 center, 4 right
  45. Mar 7– 8Investigation of Boeing 737 Max Rudder-Control Failure Latest in Series of Safety Issues11 articles · 11 independent sources
    4 left, 3 center, 2 right
  46. Mar 9– 10DOJ opens criminal investigation into the Alaska Airlines 737 plane blowout, report says42 articles · 30 independent sources
    3 left, 9 center, 5 right
  47. Mar 12– 15Dead Boeing Whistleblower Said if Something Happens It Was Not Suicide34 articles · 16 independent sources
    3 left, 6 center, 5 right
  48. Mar 12FAA audit of Boeing's 737 Max production reportedly found ‘dozens of issues'9 articles · 6 independent sources
    3 left, 1 center, 0 right
  49. Mar 12Boeing Whistleblower Found Dead: What to Know55 articles · 43 independent sources
    9 left, 12 center, 12 right
  50. Mar 15Seat belt saved passenger's life on Boeing 737 jet that suffered a blowout, lawsuit says20 articles · 15 independent sources
    3 left, 3 center, 1 right
  51. Mar 16Boeing plane found to have missing panel after United Airlines flight from California to Oregon56 articles · 40 independent sources
    7 left, 9 center, 8 right
  52. Mar 21Major airlines want to hear how Boeing plans to fix problems in the manufacturing of its planes8 articles · 8 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  53. Mar 22– 23FBI tells passengers on the Alaska Airlines flight that lost a panel they might be crime victims48 articles · 37 independent sources
    7 left, 9 center, 5 right
  54. Mar 25Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun to step down at year's end129 articles · 75 independent sources
    17 left, 25 center, 11 right

  55. April 2024

    Apr 4– 5Boeing pays Alaska Airlines $160 million in compensation for the blowout of a panel during flight18 articles · 18 independent sources
    1 left, 6 center, 5 right
  56. Apr 5Boeing CEO Calhoun took home $5 million last year, compensation package hit by Max crisis8 articles · 6 independent sources
    3 left, 1 center, 1 right
  57. Apr 9– 10Whistleblower claims that Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is flawed, prompting FAA investigation20 articles · 14 independent sources
    3 left, 4 center, 2 right
  58. Apr 10Boeing whistleblower says the Dreamliner 787 could 'break apart' due to safety flaws, report says9 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 0 right
  59. Apr 10Congress summons Boeing's CEO to testify on jetliner safety amid new whistleblower charges21 articles · 16 independent sources
    1 left, 5 center, 2 right
  60. Apr 10– 17Boeing whistleblower: ‘They are putting out defective airplanes’12 articles · 9 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 2 right
  61. Apr 16Boeing defends 787 Dreamliner safety after whistleblower alleged structural flaws6 articles · 3 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 0 right
  62. Apr 16– 17United Airlines Lost $200 Million From Boeing Max 9 Grounding10 articles · 9 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 3 right
  63. Apr 16Boeing fights off fresh whistleblower allegations, while saying employee reports have ‘exploded … which is what we want’8 articles · 8 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 1 right
  64. Apr 17Boeing in the spotlight as Congress calls a whistleblower to testify about defects in planes22 articles · 12 independent sources
    0 left, 5 center, 0 right
  65. Apr 17Boeing put under Senate scrutiny during back-to-back hearings on aircraft maker’s safety culture13 articles · 12 independent sources
    1 left, 4 center, 0 right
  66. Apr 24Boeing posts a $355 million loss as the plane maker tries to dig out from under its latest crisis11 articles · 11 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 4 right

  67. May 2024

    May 2– 3Boeing whistleblower dies following a brief illness, weeks after the suicide of another34 articles · 24 independent sources
    6 left, 4 center, 6 right
  68. May 2Spirit AeroSystems Whistleblower Dies After Sudden Infection10 articles · 10 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 3 right
  69. May 6– 7Boeing faces new FAA probe over 787 Dreamliner inspections, falsified records42 articles · 34 independent sources
    3 left, 10 center, 5 right
  70. May 14– 15Justice Department says Boeing violated deal that avoided prosecution after 737 Max crashes65 articles · 49 independent sources
    8 left, 16 center, 8 right
  71. May 16– 17Key Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems is laying off 450 after production of troubled 737s slows12 articles · 11 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 2 right
  72. May 17– 18Boeing whistleblower died by suicide, police investigation reveals27 articles · 14 independent sources
    0 left, 4 center, 4 right
  73. May 30Boeing reaches deadline for reporting how it will fix aircraft safety and quality problems28 articles · 19 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right

  74. June 2024

    Jun 13– 14FAA investigating substantial damage to Boeing 737 Max in 'Dutch roll' incident20 articles · 13 independent sources
    4 left, 5 center, 2 right
  75. Jun 13FAA head admits agency was ‘too hands-off' in its oversight of Boeing9 articles · 6 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 0 right
  76. Jun 18Boeing CEO apologizes to families of 737 Max crash victims during Senate panel testimony11 articles · 10 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 1 right
  77. Jun 18Boeing's CEO set to testify before US senate amid plane safety investigations16 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 5 center, 0 right
  78. Jun 18Boeing hid questionable 737 Max plane parts from FAA regulators, new whistleblower alleges12 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
  79. Jun 18– 19Boeing CEO defends his safety record, spars with senators and apologizes to crash victims' relatives16 articles · 16 independent sources
    4 left, 5 center, 3 right
  80. Jun 27US sanctions Boeing for sharing information about 737 Max 9 investigation32 articles · 26 independent sources
    4 left, 9 center, 4 right
  81. Jun 28A father who lost 2 sons in a Boeing Max crash waits to hear if the US will prosecute the company15 articles · 14 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 0 right
  82. Jun 30– Jul 1US wants Boeing to plead guilty to fraud over fatal crashes, lawyers say50 articles · 36 independent sources
    4 left, 9 center, 2 right

  83. July 2024

    Jul 1– 2Boeing to buy Spirit AeroSystems for $4.7 billion68 articles · 46 independent sources
    10 left, 13 center, 3 right
  84. Jul 8– 9Boeing agrees to plead guilty over 737 MAX crashes, avoids trial99 articles · 65 independent sources
    10 left, 16 center, 7 right
  85. Jul 8– 9Families of 737 Max crash victims urge a judge to reject Boeing’s plea deal10 articles · 8 independent sources
    1 left, 5 center, 1 right
  86. Jul 25US Files Details of Boeing’s Plea Deal Related to Plane Crashes. It's in the Hands of a Judge Now49 articles · 36 independent sources
    2 left, 11 center, 6 right
  87. Jul 31Boeing names its next CEO while posting a quarterly loss of more than $1.4 billion67 articles · 47 independent sources
    10 left, 14 center, 8 right

  88. December 2024

    Dec 5– 6US judge rejects Boeing's plea deal in a conspiracy case stemming from fatal plane crashes36 articles · 31 independent sources
    4 left, 11 center, 4 right

  89. March 2025

    Mar 20– 21Family of Boeing whistleblower who died by suicide files wrongful death lawsuit against company16 articles · 15 independent sources
    3 left, 4 center, 7 right
  90. Mar 25Boeing seeks to withdraw guilty pleas over 2 deadly 737 MAX crashes: Sources8 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right

  91. May 2025

    May 23– 24Boeing reaches deal with DOJ to avoid prosecution over 737 Max crashes42 articles · 31 independent sources
    5 left, 7 center, 5 right

  92. June 2025

    Jun 24NTSB criticizes both Boeing and FAA for terrifying Alaska Airlines door plug incident5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right

  93. July 2025

    Jul 12Boeing settles with a man whose family died in a 737 Max crash in Ethiopia14 articles · 9 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 1 right

  94. August 2025

    Aug 1Flight attendants sue Boeing over MAX 9 panel blowout incident: report5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 2 right

  95. September 2025

    Sep 2– 3Families of Boeing crash victims to make potential final plea for criminal prosecution21 articles · 15 independent sources
    0 left, 4 center, 1 right
  96. Sep 13– 14FAA seeks $3.1 million in fines from Boeing over safety violations, 2024 midair panel blowout16 articles · 16 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 2 right

  97. November 2025

    Nov 6Criminal case against Boeing over deadly 737 Max plane crashes is dismissed by U.S. judge7 articles · 6 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 1 right
  98. Nov 12– 13Jury awards $28M to family of a United Nations consultant killed in Boeing 737 Max crash in Ethiopia9 articles · 8 independent sources
    0 left, 4 center, 1 right

  99. May 2026

    May 14Jury orders Boeing to pay $49.5 million to family of 737 MAX crash victim6 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right

  100. July 2026

    Jul 17– 18FAA will allow Boeing to resume certifying its planes are airworthy after years of safety efforts21 articles · 16 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 1 right
  101. Jul 28FAA flags possible issue affecting seats on hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX jets53 articles · 13 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 0 right

  102. August 2026

    Aug 3– 5FAA certifies Boeing 737 MAX-7 to fly after years of delays58 articles · 16 independent sources
    3 left, 5 center, 0 right
  103. Aug 6– 8FAA orders crack inspections for hundreds of Boeing 737 Max jets69 articles · 27 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 2 right