WASHINGTON (NEWSnet/AP) — Federal Aviation Administration recommends airlines inspect the door plugs on some Boeing 737s that are older than the Max 9 jetliner that had a blowout of a similar panel during a flight this month.

FAA said door plugs on one older version of the 737, called 737-900ER, are identical in design to those on the Max 9, and some airlines “have noted findings with bolts during the maintenance inspections.”

FAA issued a safety alert Sunday. Airline officials are urged to inspect four places where a bolt, nut and pin secure the door plug to the plane, the agency said.

The plugs are panels that seal holes left for extra doors when the number of seats is not enough to trigger a requirement for more emergency-evacuation exits. From the plane’s interior, they look like a regular window.

FAA said 737-900ERs have logged 3.9 million flights without any known issues involving the door plugs. By contrast, the Max 9 that had the blowout had made only 145 flights.

One of the two door plugs on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 flew off the plane in midflight on Jan. 5. There was an emergency, and the aircraft landed with a hole in its side, and no serious injuries were reported. On a mostly full plane, no one was sitting in the two seats nearest the panel.

FAA has grounded all Max 9s with door plugs instead of regular doors in the rear of the cabin. Alaska and United Airlines are the only U.S. carriers to use the plane.

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