The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Monday that its audit of 737 Max manufacturing at Boeing and its supplier revealed 'multiple instances' of failing to ensure manufacturing met quality standards. The FAA identified 'non-compliance issues' related to Boeing's manufacturing-process control and parts handling and storage, although specific details were not disclosed.
The summary of findings from the six-week audit was shared with Boeing and supplier Spirit AeroSystems, but not made public due to the ongoing investigation. Spirit AeroSystems expressed willingness to address the audit findings and collaborate with Boeing and the FAA on corrective actions.
Boeing's CEO, David Calhoun, reiterated the company's commitment to addressing the identified issues, stating they have a 'clear picture of what needs to be done' to meet the challenge. The FAA's increased scrutiny of Boeing follows an incident on Jan. 5, when a panel detached from a Boeing 737 Max 9 mid-flight over Oregon. Despite the damage, the pilots of the Alaska Airlines jet managed to safely land the aircraft.
As a response to safety concerns raised by the FAA and an independent panel, Boeing has replaced the executive overseeing the 737 Max program and has been given a 90-day deadline to develop a plan for addressing the identified issues. The FAA continues to monitor the situation closely as investigations and corrective actions progress.
