Originally Posted by
JamaicaJoe
A couple comments:
1) Can we all agree that the missing part of the plane is a "door" that replaces an emergency exit "door, That it is NOT a "plug"?, it is not designed as a "plug", does not function as a "plug" under pressurization of the hull. In fact, it performs exactly the opposite. The outward forces work to stress the door against its retainers not the frame in any intrinsic or hermetic manner..
2) The missing door is fitted with a larger window than the emergency door it replaces. It seems from photos that there is less cross bracing in that design. However I am not jumping to conclusions that the door failed. It is more likely that the low altitude and missing bolts conspired to eject this door (not a plug).
A door has handles you can use to open it. It’s a plug in the sense it fills the space a functioning door could also be installed. Focusing on wither it ‘plugs’ the hole like a bathtub stopper or not is getting pedantic.