Jan 8 (Reuters) - Alaska Airlines pilots reported pressurization warning lights on three earlier flights of a new Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet that made an emergency landing Friday after a door plug tore off.

National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy said the auto pressurization fail light illuminated on Dec. 7, Jan. 3 and Jan. 4 but it is not clear if there is any connection between those incidents and the rapid depressurization incident. Alaska made a decision after the warning lights to restrict the flight from flying to Hawaii so that it could return quickly to an airport if needed, Homendy said.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)