FAA audit of Boeing’s 737 Max production process found many issues, NYT reports

The FAA’s audit of Boeing’s (BA) 737 MAX production process after a panel blew off on an Alaska Airlines (ALK) jet in January failed 33 of 89 tests, The New York Times’ Mark Walker reports. In the wide-ranging investigation, Boeing failed a check which dealt with the component that blew off the jet, known as a door plug, the report said, citing an FAA presentation viewed by the publication. The plane maker passed 56 of the audits and had a total of 97 instances of alleged noncompliance, according to the presentation. The FAA also conducted 13 product audits for the part of the inquiry that focused on Spirit AeroSystems (SPR), and six of those audits resulted in passing grades, while seven resulted in failing ones, the presentation said.