Third Bridge Global Head of Analyst Peter McNally discusses how the Boeing strike is affecting business on ‘The Big Money Show’.
It’s been a year since the plug on the cabin door exploded Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX in the air, and Boeing is making improvements. Still, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration said more work is needed.
Despite the rush of protocols to improve oversight of Boeing operations, Mike Whitaker, who will step down later this month, said in a blog post that “this is not a one-year project.”
“What is needed is a fundamental cultural change at Boeing that is oriented toward safety and quality over profit. This will require continued effort and commitment from Boeing, and unwavering control on our part,” Whitaker wrote.
Investigators have found that four key screws were missing from the door plug of the Boeing 737 Max 9 when it took off from Portland, Oregon, on January 5, 2024. The panel flew at 16,000 feet, causing the cabin to depressurize before the flight took off. safely returned to Portland International Airport.
BOEING WHISTLEBLOWER JOHN BARNETT WAS SPYED ON, MANAGED BY A MANAGER, SUED
Soon after, Whitaker issued an emergency airworthiness order, temporarily grounding all MAX aircraft built with this type of plug. The FAA then issued “a series of unprecedented steps that have dramatically changed the way we oversee Boeing,” Whitaker said Friday.
After the incident, Whitaker said more inspectors were sent to factories and production levels were limited for the 737 Max. But “most importantly, we asked Boeing to develop a comprehensive plan to address its systemic manufacturing quality issues,” Whitaker continued.
Boeing’s largest single-aisle aircraft arrives in Iceland on its way to the Farnborough International Airshow. (Boeing)
In addition to multiple meetings with Boeing management at FAA offices in Washington, Whitaker “visited Boeing facilities several times in 2024 to speak directly with their workforce and get their feedback on company policies and safety culture.”
Whitaker also said he “announced the importance of strong whistleblower reporting program with Boeing’s CEO and ensured that information from the FAA’s independent safety hotline was shared with all Boeing employees.”
BOEING NEEDS TO FOCUS ON SAFETY AND QUALITY AFTER INCIDENT, SAYS FAA CHIEF
However, in March 2024, a Boeing’s whistleblower Johm Barnett, 62, was found dead after raising concerns about quality control problems at his former company.
The Charleston County Coroner’s Office told Fox News Digital that Barnett died of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Before his death, Barnett had filed a lawsuit against Boeing over actions it allegedly led to his “constructive dismissal” in March 2017 and was seeking damages including back wages, lost benefits and emotional distress.
Boeing’s 737 MAX-9 is pictured under construction at its production facility in Renton, Washington, U.S., on February 13, 2017. Picture taken on February 13, 2017. (Reuters/Jason Redmond/Reuters Photos)
Still, Whitaker said, as a result of the company’s work, “it has seen a surge in employee safety reports over the past year.”
Whitaker said Boeing continues to execute its comprehensive plan in the areas of safety, quality improvement and effective employee engagement and training, and that the FAA is actively monitoring results and “closely following work in key Boeing facilities.”
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Whitaker said the FAA has conducted an unprecedented number of unannounced audits and continues to conduct monthly status reviews with Boeing executives to monitor progress.
After a recent machinist strike halted production, FAA inspectors remained at the plant and focused on issues such as training and ensuring safe storage of aircraft, he said.
Still, the FAA is “looking at all aspects” of its oversight and said it will “continue to support the NTSB’s investigation of the door plug accident.”
| Ticker | Safety | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.A | BOEING CO. | 169.90 | -1.98 |
-1.15% |
It will continue to review any recommendations from the NTSB, as well as from other parties, including the Office of the Inspector General, to improve its internal processes.
“Our goal is to develop even more dynamic monitoring protocols that allow us to predict and identify risks before incidents occur,” Whitaker added.
