Boeing: US regulator to increase oversight of firm after blowout
US authorities are intensifying scrutiny of Boeing’s production line following an incident where a door plug detached from one of its planes during a flight.
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expressed concerns about “significant problems” with the 737-9 Max jet and cited “other manufacturing problems.”
The FAA announced plans to audit the plane’s production line and review the oversight responsibilities for quality.
Historically, the FAA has delegated certain aspects of quality review to Boeing, a practice that has faced criticism and warnings of safety risks.
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker stated, “It is time to re-examine the delegation of authority and assess any associated safety risks,” emphasizing the need to explore options for risk reduction.
The FAA is considering involving an independent third party to oversee Boeing’s inspections and quality system.
Boeing has not provided an immediate response.
This development comes as Boeing works to regain trust following crashes in 2018 and 2019 involving another aircraft in the 737 Max series, resulting in 346 fatalities.
The grounding of the 737 Max planes globally for over 18 months revealed issues with the flight control system and highlighted lax FAA oversight.
As production resumed, Boeing faced several smaller manufacturing problems. The recent incident on an Alaska Airlines flight has brought renewed attention to Boeing’s operations.
Passengers on the Alaska Airlines flight have filed a class action lawsuit against Boeing.
Their lawyers described the incident as a “nightmare experience” that had caused “economic, physical and ongoing emotional consequences that have understandably deeply affected our clients”.
Mark Pegram, the father of Sam Pegram, an aid worker who died in the Ethiopian Airlines 2019 crash, said the emergency should make the government reconsider the deal it made with Boeing after the earlier fatal accidents, in which the firm paid $2.5bn but may see its criminal charge dropped.
He also called for an independent industry monitor.
“The need for this independent oversight is even more necessary now when one considers the ineptness of the FAA which has failed again to properly oversee Boeing’s Max aircraft production, as evidenced by these latest near catastrophes,” he said.
“The lives of passengers should not needlessly, and once again, be put at risk.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating what happened on the Alaska Airlines plane, which had been in service for eight weeks.
On Thursday, the FAA formally announced an inquiry into Boeing’s processes.
It has also grounded 171 planes – most of the 737-9 Max fleet – with similar door plugs for inspections, which have revealed loose bolts and other issues.
Boeing has said it will cooperate fully and transparently with the probes. Supplier Spirit Aerosystems is also involved.
Boeing chief executive Dave Calhoun has already said the company will admit its “mistake” and has described the issue as a “quality escape”.
The FAA’s Mr. Whitaker told CNBC that officials believed there were “other manufacturing problems”.
