The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a criminal investigation into the Boeing jetliner blowout that occurred on an Alaska Airlines plane earlier this year. The incident, which left a gaping hole in the aircraft, took place on January 5th shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon. The DOJ’s investigation aims to determine whether Boeing complied with a previous settlement that resolved a federal investigation into the safety of its 737 Max aircraft following two deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the DOJ has contacted passengers and crew members who were on the flight, including pilots and flight attendants. Alaska Airlines, in a prepared statement, stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation and does not believe it is a target. On the other hand, Boeing declined to comment, and the DOJ has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The blowout incident has put Boeing under increased scrutiny. The incident involved a panel that blew off a Max 9 jet, which had a space left for an extra emergency door. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries. However, this event has raised concerns about the safety of Boeing’s aircraft and the company’s compliance with safety regulations.
In 2021, Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion, including a $244 million fine, to settle an investigation into the crashes of Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines flights. The company also admitted that two employees had deceived regulators about flaws in the flight-control system. This settlement was seen as a significant step towards addressing the issues that led to the crashes and restoring public trust in Boeing.
However, recent developments have cast doubt on Boeing’s commitment to safety. In a letter to Congress, Boeing executive vice president and chief government lobbyist Ziad Ojakli acknowledged that the company could not find records for work done on the door panel of the Alaska Airlines plane. This lack of documentation raises concerns about Boeing’s quality assurance and safety management systems.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has also expressed frustration with Boeing’s lack of cooperation. The safety board’s chair, Jennifer Homendy, testified that Boeing had repeatedly refused to identify employees who work on door panels and failed to provide documentation about a repair job that included removing and reinstalling the door panel. This lack of collaboration raises concerns about the company’s commitment to safety and quality management.
In response to the NTSB’s criticism, Boeing stated that it had given the safety board the names of all employees who work on 737 doors and had previously shared some of them with investigators. The company also claimed that it had already made it clear to the safety board that it couldn’t find the documentation. However, these explanations may not be sufficient to address the concerns raised by the NTSB and the DOJ.
The blowout incident and the subsequent investigation have further damaged Boeing’s reputation and raised questions about the company’s safety culture. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently gave Boeing 90 days to address quality-control issues raised by the agency and a panel of industry and government experts. Despite improvements made after the previous crashes, the panel found problems in Boeing’s safety culture, indicating that there is still work to be done to ensure the safety of its aircraft.
As the DOJ’s criminal investigation unfolds, it is crucial for Boeing to fully cooperate and address any potential shortcomings in its safety practices. Restoring public trust in the company will require a transparent and thorough examination of its processes and a commitment to making necessary improvements. Only then can Boeing regain its position as a leader in the aviation industry and ensure the safety of its passengers.