The U.S. FAA to boost oversight of Boeing, sees more manufacturing issues
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Friday that it will increase its oversight of Boeing following a mid-flight incident where a panel broke off a new jet. FAA chief Mike Whitaker stated that the agency believes there are other manufacturing problems at the aircraft manufacturer.
The FAA will conduct a new audit of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 production line and its suppliers after an Alaska Airlines jet had to make an emergency landing a week ago due to the panel breakage.
Whitaker, in an interview with CNBC, expressed concerns over the significant problems with the new MAX 9 plane involved in the mid-air emergency and highlighted Boeing’s history of production issues. He stated, We know there are problems with manufacturing, there have been problems in the past. But these are continuing and the aircraft was three months old. We believe there are other manufacturing problems as well.
The grounding of the 737 MAX 9 aircraft has resulted in the cancellation of hundreds of flights by Alaska Airlines and United Airlines since Saturday.
Boeing has yet to provide a comment on the matter but has expressed its commitment to cooperating with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in their investigations.
The FAA’s decision to launch a formal investigation into the panel blowout and ground 171 airplanes with the same configuration indicates a growing concern over Boeing’s manufacturing practices. The results of the audit will determine whether additional inspections are required.
In response to the recent incidents, the FAA also mentioned the possibility of reevaluating its decision to delegate certain responsibilities to Boeing and potentially shifting some functions to third-party entities for more independent oversight.
FAA Administrator Whitaker emphasized the agency’s commitment to reducing risk, stating, The grounding of the 737-9 and the multiple production-related issues identified in recent years require us to look at every option to reduce risk.
Whitaker refrained from providing a timeline for the approval of inspection and maintenance instructions that would allow the return of the grounded MAX 9 planes to service.
Negotiations between Boeing, the FAA, and airlines have not yet led to an agreement on the necessary instructions from Boeing for the planes to resume commercial flights.
The Alaska Airlines incident involved a plane that had only been in service for eight weeks before the panel broke off during flight. The pilots managed to safely return the jet to Portland, Oregon, with only minor injuries reported among passengers.
Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, the major carriers operating the MAX 9 planes with the same configuration, have discovered loose parts during preliminary checks on their grounded aircraft.
While Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian expressed confidence in Boeing’s ability to learn from this incident, the recent accidents and incidents have raised concerns about the quality control of Boeing’s operations.
Boeing’s shares fell 1.6% in premarket trading and have declined over 10% since the incident occurred.
U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell called into question Boeing’s quality control in light of recent accidents and incidents, reaffirming her request for a new audit of the company made in January 2023.
In March, the FAA had already announced an increase in oversight of Boeing, expanding its regulatory staff dedicated to Boeing oversight from 82 to 107 full-time members.
As Boeing faces mounting challenges, the FAA’s decision to intensify its oversight signifies a growing concern regarding the company’s production issues. The audit and investigation findings will play a crucial role in determining the future of Boeing’s manufacturing practices and the return of the grounded MAX 9 planes to service.
Reporting by David Shepardson; additional reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago; Editing by Toby Chopra, Chizu Nomiyama, and David Gregorio
