NEWPORT, Wash — Over 100 employees went back to work at the Zodiac Aerospace facility in Newport last Monday, only three weeks after a massive explosion put an abrupt end to operations at the plant.

“Most employees seem happy to be back at work and have their normal routine,” said Mike Pound, plant manager for the facility which produces cabin interiors for airplane manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. “There was a lot of desire to still support our customer base so we made an aggressive recovery schedule and were able to hit it,” Pound said.

An explosion believed to be caused by a pre-preg treater machine ripped through the plant and echoed throughout the community shortly before 9 p.m. on July 14.

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