On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we discuss Dominic Gates and Paige Cornwell’s article in this week’s Seattle Times detailing how the door plug on the Alaska Airlines 737-9 MAX was reinstalled without the proper bolts, allowing it to blow out of the aircraft shortly after departure on January 5th. We also learn via Aviation Week that cracks have been found in the inactive Boeing 777X test aircraft as well. Italian investigators release their preliminary report on the LATAM 777 tail strike in Milan. And for reasons passing your humble podcasters’ understanding, someone wants to start a new airline in Australia.

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• Flightradar24 You’re the Captain! puzzle book pre-order
  
• Aviation Week article on Boeing 777-9 thrust link cracks
  
• Seattle Times article with detailed timeline of Boeing 737-9 door plug work
  
•  LATAM 777 tail strike preliminary report
  
• Belgian Icon livery design contest
  
• Aeromexico new logo
  

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Please check back soon for a transcript of this episode.

The post AvTalk Episode 283: When the door guy goes on vacation appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.