FAA Acknowledges Lax Oversight of Boeing Before 737-9 Max Incident

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Mike Whitaker, admitted that the agency’s oversight of Boeing was “too hands off” prior to a mid-air emergency involving an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 in January. Speaking at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Whitaker’s admission marks the first acknowledgment by the FAA of its inadequate oversight leading up to the incident, which saw a door panel blow out during flight.

Whitaker emphasized the need for a more stringent approach, stating that the FAA had increased its in-person inspections and would continue to hold Boeing accountable for any noncompliance discovered. “The FAA should have had much better visibility into what was happening at Boeing before Jan. 5,” he said, reflecting on the incident that has spurred multiple ongoing investigations into the aerospace giant.

In response to the incident, Whitaker has also implemented a permanent boost in the use of in-person inspectors and revealed plans to visit a Boeing factory in South Carolina. He criticized the FAA’s previous focus on paperwork audits over physical inspections, which he believes contributed to the oversight failure.

The FAA’s commitment to enhanced enforcement and oversight comes amid active investigations into Boeing, fueled by numerous reports from whistleblowers. These efforts are aimed at ensuring such lapses in safety and compliance do not recur.

Senator Ted Cruz voiced concerns about the FAA’s oversight failures, highlighting the need for the agency to ensure aircraft are not only safely designed but also built to those specifications. Meanwhile, Whitaker acknowledged the FAA’s shared responsibility in the oversight failures, stating, “Boeing makes the airplane so Boeing is responsible, but we’re also responsible for oversight, so we should have had a better handle on what was going on.”

The incident has led to a broader examination of Boeing’s practices and the FAA’s regulatory role, with ongoing criminal probes and legislative scrutiny continuing to unfold. Whitaker’s statements underscore a shift towards a more proactive and stringent regulatory approach to aircraft manufacturing and safety oversight.