The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a significant penalty of $3.1 million against Boeing due to serious safety violations. These infractions include a critical incident involving an Alaska Airlines jetliner that lost a door plug panel midflight. The FAA's proposed fine pertains to violations that occurred between September 2023 and February 2024, as announced on Friday.
Among the safety breaches highlighted by the FAA is the alarming event in January 2024, when a door plug, which is a paneled-over exit door, blew out shortly after an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 took off from Portland, Oregon. Fortunately, none of the 171 passengers or six crew members on board were seriously injured, as the skilled pilots managed to safely return the aircraft to the airport.
In June, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded a 17-month investigation, revealing that the door plug blowout was a result of lapses in Boeing's manufacturing and safety oversight. The investigation also pointed to ineffective inspections and audits conducted by the FAA. The FAA reported having identified hundreds of quality system violations at Boeing's 737 factory located in Renton, Washington, as well as at the Boeing subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems' factory in Wichita, Kansas.
Among the concerning findings, the FAA disclosed that a Boeing employee exerted pressure on a member of Boeing's Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) unit—responsible for certain inspections and certifications on behalf of the FAA—to approve a 737 Max airplane. This was done to meet delivery schedules, despite the ODA member determining that the aircraft did not comply with applicable safety standards.
Boeing, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, has been given a 30-day window to respond to the FAA's proposed civil penalty. In a statement released on Saturday, the company acknowledged the FAA's proposed fine and stated that it is currently reviewing the matter. Boeing emphasized that it implemented a comprehensive safety and quality plan last year, under FAA oversight, designed to enhance safety management and quality assurance in its aircraft production processes.
“We regret the January 2024 door plug accident and continue to work on strengthening our safety culture and improving first-time quality and accountability across our operations,” Boeing's statement read.
The 737 Max version of Boeing’s best-selling aircraft has been marred by ongoing issues since two tragic crashes occurred in 2018 in Indonesia and 2019 in Ethiopia, resulting in the loss of 346 lives. In May, the Justice Department reached a settlement allowing Boeing to evade criminal prosecution for allegedly misleading U.S. regulators about the 737 Max prior to the two catastrophic incidents.
This proposed penalty from the FAA highlights the ongoing scrutiny and challenges Boeing faces as it works to improve safety and compliance within its operations.
