Alaska Airlines found "some loose bolts on many" Boeing 737 MAX 9s during inspections following the Jan. 5 mid-air cabin panel blowout that forced the emergency landing of a new Alaska jet, airline CEO Ben Minicucci told NBC News in an interview that aired Tuesday.

Alaska Airlines disclosed on Jan. 8 that initial reports from its technicians indicated "some loose hardware was visible on some 737 MAX 9 planes."