Boeing hires retired Navy admiral for independent investigation after door plug blowout

Boeing has tapped Kirkland Donald, a retired Navy admiral, to conduct an independent assessment of its quality management systems amid multiple investigations after a panel blew off an Alaska Airlines plane midflight.

The Federal Aviation Administration grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 models after an incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight on Jan. 5. A door plug flew off during the flight out of Portland, Oregon, leaving a gaping hole in the left side of the plane and causing an emergency landing in which all passengers and crew made it safely. However, a few were injured, and some are suing Boeing for damages.