(Bloomberg) -- Alaska Airlines will “initiate and enhance” its own quality control checks on the production of its planes, in addition to Federal Aviation Administration's review and oversight of the process after an accident on a Boeing Co. 737 Max 9 jet this month.
The carrier said it met with Boeing's chief executive officer and leadership team in recent days to discuss their quality improvement plans, according to a statement Saturday. A fuselage panel blew off a Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon on Jan. 5.
Preliminary inspections by Alaska Air and United Airlines Holdings Inc. since the accident have found loose bolts on some of their Max 9 aircraft. The FAA has launched a formal probe of the Boeing's manufacturing operations and announced steps to toughen oversight of the planemaker.
Read more: Boeing Gets New Demand From US Before Max 9 Can Fly Again
Alaska Air also said its quality and audit team began a thorough review of Boeing's production quality and control systems, and production vendor oversight.
Alaska Air “will partner with our maintenance team on the design of enhanced processes for our own quality control over aircraft at Boeing,” it said. “Starting this week, we will also enhance our own quality oversight of Alaska aircraft on the Boeing production line, expanding our team with additional experienced professionals to validate work and quality on the Boeing 737 production line.”
Read more: Boeing Sued by Alaska Air Passengers Over 737 Max 9 Door Blowout
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