Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems Face Safety Scrutiny at Federal Hearing Over 737 Max Incident

Boeing and its fuselage supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, are under examination at a two-day federal safety hearing that started Tuesday, focusing on a midair blowout incident involving a 737 Max 9 earlier this year. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released over 3,000 pages of documents related to Flight 1282, providing insight into the internal challenges both companies face.

During the hearing, Boeing safety executive Elizabeth Lund outlined that the company is actively developing design modifications to ensure such an incident does not recur. These changes aim to prevent the door plug from being closed unless it is securely fastened. Lund assured that these design adjustments would be implemented within the year.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy emphasized that the hearing is strictly an investigative measure, stating, “This is not a PR campaign for Boeing. This is an investigation on what happened on Jan. 5. Understand?” This statement came after revelations that bolts intended to secure the door were not properly attached, which, fortunately, did not lead to serious injuries but spotlighted ongoing issues within Boeing’s manufacturing processes.

The incident has triggered a management overhaul at Boeing, with the appointment of aerospace veteran Robert “Kelly” Ortberg as the new CEO, previously the head of Rockwell Collins. He is set to start his role on Thursday.

Further complicating Boeing’s challenges, the incident has stalled the delivery of new aircraft to customers, damaging the storied U.S. manufacturer’s reputation with airlines and regulators alike. Outgoing CEO Dave Calhoun highlighted efforts to eliminate “traveled work”—defects that need rectifying out of sequence—which has been a persistent issue. Boeing’s forthcoming acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems is seen as a strategic move to enhance oversight of manufacturing quality.

A Boeing worker, whose identity was withheld, expressed frustration over the frequent need to replace various aircraft doors, likening it to “replacing our underwear.” This comment underscores the daily hurdles faced by the company’s production teams.

As the hearing continues, all eyes are on how Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems will address these systemic issues and restore confidence in their operations and safety protocols.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnbc.com