Alaska Air returns 737 MAX 9 involved in mid-air blowout to Boeing

(Reuters) -Alaska Airlines said on Friday it has returned to Boeing the 737 MAX 9 plane that in January was involved in a mid-air door panel blowout.

"They have taken possession of it and the registration has been changed," an Alaska Airlines spokesperson said, adding an order for a new 737-10 has also been placed.

Boeing has informed its suppliers there will be a delay in a key production milestone for its 737 jet family by three months, sources told Reuters' earlier this month.

U.S. investigators on Thursday sanctioned Boeing for revealing details of a probe into the blowout and said they would refer its conduct to the Justice Department, prompting the planemaker to issue an apology.

(Reporting by David Shepardson and Urvi Dugar in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie Adler and Chris Reese)