Current:Home > NewsBoeing shows feds its plan to fix aircraft safety 4 months after midair blowout-LoTradeCoin
Boeing shows feds its plan to fix aircraft safety 4 months after midair blowout
View Date:2025-01-13 05:25:21
Boeing told federal regulators Thursday how it plans to fix the safety and quality problems that have plagued its aircraft-manufacturing work in recent years.
The Federal Aviation Administration required the company to produce a turnaround plan after one of its jetliners suffered a blowout of a fuselage panel during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.
"Today, we reviewed Boeing's roadmap to set a new standard of safety and underscored that they must follow through on corrective actions and effectively transform their safety culture," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said after he met with senior company leaders. ""On the FAA's part, we will make sure they do and that their fixes are effective. This does not mark the end of our increased oversight of Boeing and its suppliers, but it sets a new standard of how Boeing does business," he added
Nobody was hurt during the midair incident on relatively new Boeing 737 Max 9. Accident investigators determined that bolts that helped secure the panel to the frame of the plane were missing before the piece blew off. The mishap has further battered Boeing's reputation and led to multiple civil and criminal investigations.
Accusations of safety shortcuts
Whistleblowers have accused the company of taking shortcuts that endanger passengers, a claim that Boeing disputes. A panel convened by the FAA found shortcomings in the aircraft maker's safety culture.
In late February, Whitaker gave Boeing 90 days to come up with a plan to improve quality and ease the agency's safety concerns.
- Whistleblower at key Boeing supplier dies after sudden illness
- Boeing whistleblower John Barnett died by suicide, police investigation concludes
The FAA limited Boeing production of the 737 Max, its best-selling plane, after the close call involving the Alaska Airlines jetliner. Whitaker said the cap will remain in place until his agency is satisfied Boeing is making progress.
Over the last three months, the FAA conducted 30- and 60-day check-ins with Boeing officials, according to a statement from the agency. The purpose of the check-ins was to ensure Boeing had a clear understanding of regulators' expectations and that it was fulfilling mid- and long-term actions they set forth by the FAA. These actions include:
- Strengthening its Safety Management System, including employee safety reporting
- Simplifying processes and procedures and clarifying work instructions
- Enhanced supplier oversight
- Enhanced employee training and communication
- Increased internal audits of production system
Potential criminal charges
Boeing's recent problems could expose it to criminal prosecution related to the deadly crashes of two Max jetliners in 2018 and 2019. The Justice Department said two weeks ago that Boeing violated terms of a 2021 settlement that allowed it to avoid prosecution for fraud. The charge was based on the company allegedly deceiving regulators about a flight-control system that was implicated in the crashes.
Most of the recent problems have been related to the Max, however Boeing and key supplier Spirit AeroSystems have also struggled with manufacturing flaws on a larger plane, the 787 Dreamliner. Boeing has suffered setbacks on other programs including its Starliner space capsule, a military refueling tanker, and new Air Force One presidential jets.
Boeing officials have vowed to regain the trust of regulators and the flying public. Boeing has fallen behind rival Airbus, and production setbacks have hurt the company's ability to generate cash.
The company says it is reducing "traveled work" — assembly tasks that are done out of their proper chronological order — and keeping closer tabs on Spirit AeroSystems.
- In:
- Plane Crash
- Federal Aviation Administration
veryGood! (64)
Related
- Trading wands for whisks, new Harry Potter cooking show brings mess and magic
- Travis Hunter shines as Colorado takes care of business against Colorado State: Highlights
- Four Downs and a Bracket: Billy Napier era at Florida nears end with boosters ready to pay buyout
- Reese Witherspoon Reveals Epic Present Laura Dern Gave Her Son at 2024 Emmys
- Jordan Chiles Reveals She Still Has Bronze Medal in Emotional Update After 2024 Olympics Controversy
- 2024 Emmys: Jennifer Aniston Debuts Shocking Fashion Switch Up on the Red Carpet
- Tech billionaire returns to Earth after first private spacewalk
- John Oliver Curses Out Emmy Awards on Live TV While Paying Tribute to Dead Dog
- Army veteran reunites with his K9 companion, who served with him in Afghanistan
- Quentin Johnston personifies Jim Harbaugh effect for 2-0 Los Angeles Chargers
Ranking
- Caitlin Clark has one goal for her LPGA pro-am debut: Don't hit anyone with a golf ball
- 2024 Emmys: The Traitors Host Alan Cumming Teases Brutal Bloodbath for Season 3
- Federal judge temporarily blocks Biden administration rule to limit flaring of gas at oil wells
- 2024 Emmys: Lamorne Morris Puts This New Girl Star on Blast for Not Wanting a Reboot
- Cold case arrest: Florida man being held in decades-old Massachusetts double murder
- Hispanic Heritage Month: Celebrating culture, history, identity and representation
- ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ is No. 1 again; conservative doc ‘Am I Racist’ cracks box office top 5
- Laverne Cox, 'Baby Reindeer' star Nava Mau tear up over making trans history at Emmys
Recommendation
-
Pistons' Tim Hardaway Jr. leaves in wheelchair after banging head on court
-
Open Up the 2004 Emmys Time Capsule With These Celeb Photos
-
Perry Farrell's Wife Defends Jane's Addiction Singer After His Onstage Altercation With Dave Navarro
-
2024 Emmys: You Might Have Missed Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's Sweet Audience Moment
-
Why have wildfires been erupting across the East Coast this fall?
-
2024 Emmys: See Meryl Streep and Martin Short Continue to Fuel Dating Rumors
-
D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai arrives at the Emmys with powerful statement honoring missing Indigenous women
-
‘Shogun,’ ‘The Bear’ and ‘Baby Reindeer’ are at the top of the queue as the Emmys arrive