Boeing replaces head of 737 Max program after Alaska Airlines door plug incident

Six weeks after the door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines plane that took off from PDX, the airplane’s manufacturer has ousted the man in charge of the plane model’s program.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Six weeks after a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines plane that took off from PDX, the airplane’s manufacturer has ousted the man in charge of the plane model’s program.

Ed Clark, the head of Boeing’s 737 Max program that builds its Max 9 air crafts, will be replaced after a manufacturing error led to the incident on Jan. 5, CEO Stan Deal announced to employees Wednesday morning.

"Ed Clark is leaving the company. Ed departs with my, and our, deepest gratitude for his many significant contributions over nearly 18 years of dedicated service to Boeing," Deal said in the announcement. "Katie Ringgold will succeed Ed as vice president and general manager, 737 program and Renton site."

The announcement comes two weeks after a report from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board found the bolts that held the door plug in place were missing when the plane departed.

The bolts prevent the door plug from sliding up from the frame when pressurization changes in the cabin mid-flight. Instead, the door flew off when Flight 1282 reached an altitude of 16,000 feet.

The plane headed to Ontario, California, took off around 5 p.m. and the passengers on board made it back to PDX by 5:30 p.m. Some are now suing Boeing and Alaska, claiming the flight caused them trauma and injury.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a temporary grounding of all Boeing 737 Max 9 aircrafts following the incident. The planes have since made their way back into transit.

Stay with KOIN 6 as this story develops.