Boeing Faces Sanctions from NTSB Over Unauthorized Disclosure in Alaska Airlines Investigation

Boeing is under scrutiny from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) following a breach of protocol in disclosing non-public details about an ongoing investigation into a door panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight. The aerospace giant, which has long been a participant in NTSB investigations, allegedly violated confidentiality agreements during a recent news conference.

The incident in question involved a mid-air malfunction on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on January 5, where a door panel blew out shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, involving a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft. The flight, carrying 174 passengers and six crew members, faced this significant safety scare, prompting immediate NTSB intervention.

Timothy LeBaron, Director of the NTSB Office of Aviation Safety, highlighted in a letter to Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun that Elizabeth Lund, Boeing’s Senior Vice President of Quality, had revealed sensitive investigation details and speculated on potential causes at a public press briefing. This move was flagged by the NTSB as a violation of the established rules, which strictly limit the disclosure of investigative information to verified factual content by authorized NTSB personnel.

In response to the breach, the NTSB has imposed restrictions on Boeing’s access to sensitive investigative information and plans to subpoena the company to appear at an investigative hearing scheduled for August 6-7 in Washington D.C. Unlike other parties at the hearing, Boeing will not have the privilege to question other participants, highlighting the seriousness of their procedural violation.

Further compounding the situation, Alaska Airlines confirmed that it had returned the affected aircraft to Boeing and placed an order for a new 737 Max 10. The airline stated that the returned plane is no longer part of its fleet, indicating a swift move to address any potential fallout from the incident.

This sanction marks the second warning issued to Boeing this year regarding non-compliance with NTSB’s stringent rules, underscoring ongoing tensions between the aircraft manufacturer and the safety board tasked with overseeing aviation incidents. The NTSB’s firm stance serves as a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining integrity and confidentiality during aviation safety investigations.