Following an incident where a fuselage panel detached from an Alaska Airlines jet in January, Boeing’s 737 MAX production process encountered challenges during an examination by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), failing 33 out of 89 audits, as reported by The New York Times on Monday.
The investigation revealed that Boeing fell short in a particular audit concerning the door plug component responsible for the jet panel detachment. Spirit AeroSystems, the supplier of the fuselage for the MAX, also faced scrutiny, passing only six out of 13 audits and encountering issues with the installation of the door plug component.
Concerns were raised about the technicians’ qualifications and Spirit AeroSystems’ process understanding. Several audits, including those related to a cargo door and the installation of cockpit windows, highlighted further shortcomings in Spirit’s operations.
In response to the FAA’s findings, Boeing is actively working on immediate changes and developing a plan to enhance safety and quality measures, as outlined in a statement to Reuters. Requests for comments from the FAA and Spirit AeroSystems have not been addressed yet.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expects Boeing to cooperate with ongoing Justice Department and National Transportation Safety Board investigations regarding a mid-air emergency involving the 737 MAX 9 on January 5.
Michael Whitaker from the FAA mentioned plans to establish milestones for Boeing to meet within the next 30 days to potentially increase the MAX production rate. Recent findings by the FAA indicated issues with Boeing’s manufacturing process control, parts handling, storage, and product control.
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