Mar 6, 2024,05:01pm EST
Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, highlighted during a Senate hearing on Wednesday that Boeing has not yet supplied crucial information requested for the board’s investigation into the door plug incident that occurred during an Alaska Airlines flight in January, marking the latest criticism directed at the aircraft manufacturer.
KEY FACTS
The NTSB has specifically sought documents related to the opening and closing procedures of the door plug, as well as the identities of several employees involved in door plug operations at Boeing’s Renton, Washington facility.
Homendy expressed frustration during the hearing, stating, “It’s absurd that two months later, we don’t have that,” in reference to the list of employee names.
Boeing initially furnished the NTSB with names of employees, including door specialists believed to possess pertinent information. The company later stated that it has “now provided the full list of individuals on the 737 door team, in response to a recent request.”
Following a preliminary report released in February, which revealed that four bolts meant to secure the door plug were missing after a repair, the NTSB continues to press Boeing for employee details.
In response to a query from Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Homendy disclosed that the NTSB remains unaware of the individuals responsible for opening and closing the door plug, emphasizing that efforts to obtain this information have been ongoing.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Senator Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., informed reporters after the hearing that the Senate Commerce Committee is in the process of arranging hearings involving Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun and FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, according to The New York Times.
KEY BACKGROUND
The door plug incident, occurring in early January, has prompted significant scrutiny of Boeing, with Homendy characterizing the company as having a “quality control problem” last month. Homendy also warned that a similar incident could occur again, highlighting deficiencies in the safety assurance process among aircraft manufacturers. A recent FAA audit of Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, prompted by the door plug incident, revealed non-compliance issues in Boeing’s “manufacturing process control, parts handling and storage, and product control,” as stated in a blog post. As a result, production expansion of the Boeing 737 MAX has been halted by the FAA.