NTSB Urgently Calls for Inspection of Boeing 757 Door Latches
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require airlines to inspect and, if necessary, replace the door latches on Boeing 757 airplanes. This recommendation follows an emergency evacuation during a FedEx flight in October 2023 in Tennessee.
Additionally, the agency recommended extending these inspections to Boeing 727 and 737 models that use the same latch design, warning that defects could delay evacuations in critical situations if emergency slides fail to deploy properly.
The FedEx Incident That Raised Alarms
A FedEx Boeing 757, manufactured in 1988, departed from Chattanooga when the crew received an engine indication and alert system warning of a failure in the left hydraulic system. Unable to lower the landing gear, the crew performed a gear-up emergency landing.
After landing, an occupant in the jump seat attempted to open the left door, which only partially rotated without fully opening. The emergency slide also failed to deploy. The same occupant then tried the right door, which became stuck in the slide pack, requiring force to open it and achieve normal slide deployment.
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Fortunately, neither the crew nor the jump seat occupant sustained any injuries.
Inspections Reveal Issues in Multiple Aircraft
Following the investigation, the NTSB discovered that one of the latches responsible for releasing the slide pack did not meet the proper assembly configuration for the release cable.
As a result, FedEx inspected its remaining 97 Boeing 757 aircraft and found that 46 doors—approximately 24% of the total—did not comply with airworthiness directives issued in 1986 and 2001.
In April 2024, Boeing issued a notice to operators alerting them to the issue. Subsequently, a non-U.S. airline inspected four 757 doors and found that three had non-conforming latches.
Actions to Be Taken
The FAA stated that it takes the NTSB’s recommendations seriously and will respond within the appropriate timeframe.
Given this situation, airlines operating Boeing 757, 727, and 737 aircraft must act quickly to ensure their planes meet safety standards, avoiding unnecessary risks during emergencies.
Inspections and potential replacements of defective latches are now urgent measures to prevent failures that could endanger the lives of passengers and crew.
With information from Reuters
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