FAA Expands Probe Into Boeing 737 Max 9 Quality Control
The US Federal Aviation Administration is expanding its probe into Boeing 737 Max 9 quality control following this month’s in-flight blowout of a part of an Alaska Airlines plane. This investigation comes after a series of troubling incidents and quality failures involving Boeing and its contractor Spirit AeroSystems.
FAA Expands Probe into Boeing 737 Max 9 Quality Control
The FAA has also confirmed that all 171 Boeing 737 Max 9s in the United States remain grounded, and the agency has received new data from preliminary inspections of 40 of those airplanes. These inspections are part of the process to determine the approval of an inspection and maintenance process required for every grounded 737-9 Max prior to future operation.
Troubling History of Spirit AeroSystems
Additionally, Spirit AeroSystems has been involved in several production issues on the aft fuselage section of certain 737 models, as well as improper holes drilled on the 'aft pressure bulkhead' of the 737 fuselage. Both Spirit and Boeing have maintained that these issues were not immediate flight-safety concerns.
Additional Developments and Context
The FAA’s thorough review of the data from preliminary inspections and the implications for the future operation of the grounded 737-9 Max highlight the urgency of addressing the quality control and safety concerns. The outcome of the investigation and the measures taken by Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems will have significant implications for the aviation industry and the confidence of passengers and airlines in the safety of Boeing aircraft.
