Alaska Airlines COO Takes Seat Next to Door Plug as First Boeing 737 Max 9 with Passengers Takes Flight Following Three-Week Grounding

On Friday afternoon, Boeing’s 737 Max 9 model made its return to service with Alaska Airlines Flight 1146 departing from Seattle at around 3:51 pm local time (6:51 pm ET) en route to San Diego.

This marks the model’s first revenue flight since the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded Boeing jets three weeks ago due to a door plug blowout incident on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282.

Alaska Airlines COO, Constance von Muehlen, accompanied the flight, expressing full confidence in the aircraft despite the recent grounding. She took a seat next to the door plug and emphasized her trust in the safety of the plane to CNN.

Passenger Sarah Edgbert was unaware that her flight was on a 737 Max 9 until reaching the gate and spotting news crews. Initially anxious, she later stated, “But then realizing it’s probably the safest plane out there right now, it’s been through lots of tests since then.”

One passenger, Kent, who preferred not to disclose his last name, asserted, “I am not going to stop doing what I do. I am not going to change my habits for it, and I am going to be hoping that something bad doesn’t happen.”

Doug Bowman learned about boarding a Max 9 plane from CNN but emphasized the importance of his engagements in San Diego, prompting his decision to proceed with the flight.

Flight N929AK, experiencing a delay in Seattle due to its late arrival, is expected to land in San Diego around 9 pm ET. Alaska and United Airlines, the two US carriers operating the Max 9, had been canceling numerous daily flights since the grounding. They cooperated with the FAA and Boeing to refine inspection procedures, ensuring the planes’ safety before resuming operations. Alaska Airlines has three scheduled Max 9 flights on Friday, while United Airlines plans its first Max 9 flight for Sunday, with cleared Max 9s available as spares in the meantime.

Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci expressed confidence that passengers would not shy away from the Max 9, anticipating a return to full capacity once the aircraft is back in service.