WASHINGTON- During a Senate committee hearing on Wednesday, the Chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jennifer Homendy, conveyed concerns about Boeing’s perceived delay in supplying crucial information related to the investigation into an incident where a door panel detached from an Alaska Airlines (AS) 737 MAX 9 mid-flight in January.
Homendy informed the Senate Commerce Committee that the NTSB had requested all available documentation regarding the opening and closing of the panel, referred to as a “door plug,” at Boeing’s facility in Renton, Washington. Additionally, the safety board sought to identify specific workers involved in the process at the factory.
NTSB: Boeing 737 MAX Inquiry
Boeing manages a team of 25 employees and a manager responsible for doors at the Renton plant, as outlined by Ms. Homendy. However, the manager has been on medical leave, making it challenging for the agency to conduct an interview. Moreover, Boeing has not furnished the names of the other 25 employees.
Expressing frustration, Ms. Homendy remarked, “It’s absurd that two months later, we don’t have that.”
The aircraft manufacturer is under investigation by the safety board and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following an incident on January 5 involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 departing from Portland, Oregon.
While no serious injuries occurred when the door plug detached at around 16,000 feet, the event triggered a reevaluation of Boeing’s quality-control procedures.
A preliminary report from the safety board, released last month, indicated that four bolts designed to secure the door plug had been removed at Boeing’s Renton factory and appeared to have not been reinstalled before the plane’s delivery.
In the aftermath of the incident, Boeing faced significant criticism. The FAA imposed restrictions on the company, preventing the expansion of production for the 737 Max series until it addressed the identified quality-control issues.
Furthermore, the regulator mandated Boeing to devise a plan for improvements within 90 days.
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