FAA increasing oversight of Boeing production and manufacturing

The Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, announced what it calls “new and significant actions” to immediately increase its oversight of Boeing production and manufacturing. These actions come one day after the FAA formally notified Boeing that the FAA has launched an investigation into the company as a result of last Friday’s incident on a Boeing Model 737-9 MAX in which the aircraft lost a passenger door plug while in flight. “It is time to re-examine the delegation of authority and assess any associated safety risks. The grounding of the 737-9 and the multiple production-related issues identified in recent years require us to look at every option to reduce risk. The FAA is exploring the use of an independent third party to oversee Boeing’s inspections and its quality system,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. “The safety of the flying public, not speed, will determine the timeline for returning the Boeing 737-9 MAX to service,” the FAA reiterated.