18-1-2024 (WASHINGTON) The head of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jennifer Homendy, confirmed that the panel that recently blew out of an Alaska Airlines jet was manufactured in Malaysia by Spirit AeroSystems, Boeing’s leading supplier. The NTSB will investigate the production process of the part and its installation on the plane. Homendy made these statements during a closed-door briefing for senators in Washington.
A spokesperson for Spirit AeroSystems acknowledged that the panel was indeed made in Malaysia and expressed the company’s commitment to cooperating with the NTSB’s investigation.
Authorities have revealed that 40 planes identical to the one involved in the incident have undergone inspections by airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will review the findings from these inspections, specifically focusing on Boeing 737 Max 9 jets, before allowing them to resume passenger operations. The FAA aims to develop a comprehensive maintenance process to ensure the safety of the aircraft.
Boeing’s CEO visited Spirit AeroSystems’ headquarters and factory in Wichita, Kansas, emphasizing the collaboration between the two companies to improve the situation.
In Washington, Jennifer Homendy and FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker briefed members of the Senate commerce committee for two hours. Both officials stated that their investigations into the incident and Boeing are still in the early stages. Senator Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, commented that although no specific details about penalties or enforcement were mentioned, he believes there will be consequences once the investigations conclude.
Senator Moran also mentioned that Whitaker highlighted the FAA’s focus on addressing the challenges Boeing has faced over a longer period, of which this incident is just one component.
During the briefing, there was also a keen interest in ensuring that the FAA is effectively overseeing the situation, Senator Moran added.
Neither the FAA nor the NTSB provided further comments regarding the briefing.
Boeing’s CEO, David Calhoun, visited Spirit AeroSystems’ factory in Wichita, where a significant portion of the fuselage for Boeing Max jets is manufactured. Calhoun, along with Spirit’s CEO Patrick Shanahan, met with around 200 Spirit employees in what was described as a town hall meeting.
Calhoun expressed confidence in improvement, stating that engineers and mechanics from both Boeing and Spirit would learn from the incident and apply their knowledge to all future endeavors.
Shanahan assured the workers that through collaboration with the NTSB, FAA, airlines, and Boeing, confidence would be restored.
This meeting between the CEOs of both companies came at a time when they are under scrutiny regarding the quality of their work.
On January 5, an Alaska Airlines Max 9 plane was compelled to make an emergency landing after a panel known as a door plug detached from the aircraft shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon.
The NTSB is currently investigating the accident, while the FAA is examining whether Boeing and its suppliers adhered to proper quality-control procedures.
Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, the only other US carrier operating the Max 9, reported finding loose hardware in the door plugs of other planes during inspections conducted after the incident. As a result, both airlines have grounded their Max 9s and canceled numerous flights.
Boeing’s shares experienced a 1% increase on Wednesday, but have declined by 18% since the incident occurred. This decline makes the Arlington, Virginia-based company the worst performer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average during this timeframe.
