FAA public statements and reports

FAA Demands Cultural Shift at Boeing for Safety and Quality After 737 MAX 9 Incident

Jan 3, 2025, 01:30 PM

Boeing has been under scrutiny for its manufacturing quality and safety protocols following a series of incidents, including a door panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 flight in early 2024. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has emphasized the need for a 'fundamental cultural shift' at Boeing, prioritizing safety and quality over profits. The FAA has increased its oversight, implementing more inspectors in Boeing's factories, limiting production of new 737s to 38 per month, and requiring Boeing to develop a comprehensive plan to address manufacturing issues. Boeing has responded by outlining steps to improve safety and quality, including enhancing training for mechanics and quality inspectors, implementing random quality audits, and reducing defects in 737 fuselages produced by Spirit AeroSystems. Despite these efforts, the FAA's outgoing chief, Mike Whitaker, stated that the agency's enhanced oversight will continue indefinitely. Boeing couldn't build new 737s during a seven-week strike by machinists last fall.