United Airlines has found bolts in need of “additional tightening” during inspections of Boeing 737 Max 9s.

It comes after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft following an incident on an Alaska Airlines flight Friday evening, where a section of the fuselage flew off mid-flight

“Since we began preliminary inspections on Saturday, we have found instances that appear to relate to installation issues in the door plug. For example, bolts that needed additional tightening. These findings will be remedied by our Tech Ops team to safely return the aircraft to service,” United said in a statement.

United Airlines has 79 737-9 aircraft in its fleet. It has cancelled 200 flights as of Monday, with further cancellations expected on Tuesday, as inspections continue.

“We have been able to operate some planned flights by switching to other aircraft types, avoiding about 30 cancellations each on Monday and Tuesday,” United explained.

READ: FAA grounds 171 Boeing 737 Max 9s

“The FAA’s priority is always keeping Americans safe. In that spirit, Boeing 737-9 aircraft will remain grounded until operators complete enhanced inspections which include both left and right cabin door exit plugs, door components, and fasteners. Operators must also complete corrective action requirements based on findings from the inspections prior to bringing any aircraft back into service,” the FAA stated on Monday.

Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 was forced to return to Portland Oregon shortly after takeoff when the door plug flew off, resulting in the rapid depressurisation of the cabin.

The aircraft reached 16,000ft before beginning its emergency descent. Footage online showed the gap in the side of the aircraft, with oxygen masks deployed.

“Safety is our top priority and we deeply regret the impact this event has had on our customers and their passengers. We agree with and fully support the FAA’s decision to require immediate inspections of 737-9 airplanes with the same configuration as the affected airplane. In addition, a Boeing technical team is supporting the NTSB’s investigation into last night’s event. We will remain in close contact with our regulator and customers,” Boeing said after the incident.

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