(Photo Boeing)
AFTER GROUNDING 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9s in response to the in-flight separation of a door plug on an Alaska Airlines aircraft, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced new measures on January 12 to enhance its oversight of Boeing's production and manufacturing processes. These actions were initiated a day after the agency launched an investigation into the Alaska incident.
The FAA’s actions include conducting an audit of the MAX 9 production line and its suppliers to assess Boeing's adherence to approved quality procedures. Additionally, there will be heightened monitoring of MAX 9 in-service events, an evaluation of safety risks related to delegated authority and quality oversight, and an exploration of options to transfer these functions to independent third-party entities.