Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urged Boeing to collaborate with government investigations following a series of incidents that have raised concerns about the safety of its aircraft.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed his support for Boeing’s full cooperation with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). He emphasized that while respecting the independence of these agencies, it is crucial for Boeing to actively collaborate with them. Buttigieg expects Boeing to fully engage with the investigations conducted by the NTSB, DOJ, and his own department.
The Justice Department has initiated a criminal investigation into an incident that occurred in January. During an Alaska Airlines flight, a door panel of a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft became detached midair, resulting in a significant hole on the side of the plane. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report this development. It follows the company’s announcement that it was unable to find the records requested by the National Transportation Safety Board for their investigation into the door panel’s manufacturing at the Boeing factory.
According to the AP, Buttigieg expressed the opinion that Boeing needs to undergo a significant transformation in terms of its responsiveness, culture, and quality issues.
In an email statement to The Hill, the company emphasized its commitment to full and transparent cooperation with government investigations and audits. They also highlighted their ongoing efforts to enhance safety and quality at Boeing.
Boeing is currently engaged in discussions to repurchase Spirit AeroSystems, a manufacturer that was associated with the incident on the Alaska Airlines flight. It was determined that the fuselage and door plug, which detached during the incident, were produced by Spirit.
According to the AP, the manufacturer separated from Boeing in 2005.
Boeing stated that they have been collaborating closely with Spirit AeroSystems and its leadership to enhance the quality of the commercial airplanes they manufacture together. They confirmed that as a result of this collaboration, there have been preliminary discussions about reintegrating Spirit AeroSystems as a part of Boeing once again.
