Following the cabin door explosion on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft operated by Alaska Airlines on January 5th, Boeing is now under strict scrutiny by multiple US regulatory agencies and the Department of Justice regarding its safety and quality issues.
According to reports from the media, the US Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating Boeing’s safety assurances and will examine whether the company or its executives have violated Wall Street regulatory standards, potentially misleading investors.
On January 11th, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that following the incident of the cabin door panel rupture on Boeing’s 737 MAX 9 aircraft, they initiated a formal investigation into the plane, emphasizing that such an event “should not have happened and cannot happen again.”
At the end of January, the FAA announced that Boeing would not be allowed to expand the production of the 737 MAX and established inspection and maintenance procedures for the grounded aircraft post-incident.
After a full day of discussions between the FAA and Boeing’s departing CEO Dave Calhoun on February 28th, the FAA informed Boeing that the company must develop a comprehensive action plan within 90 days to address “systemic quality control issues.”
On Friday, May 17th, Calhoun stated that the company would meet with the FAA within weeks to submit a final plan complying with the 90-day deadline set by US regulatory authorities.
As reported by Reuters, the FBI informed passengers on Alaska Airlines flights in March that they could be victims of criminal activities.
In early May, the Department of Justice stated in court documents that Boeing had breached obligations set in a 2021 agreement aimed at preventing criminal prosecution for the 2018 and 2019 crashes of the 737 MAX aircraft that resulted in 346 fatalities.
The documents indicated that the Department of Justice instructed Boeing to respond by June 13th and intended to decide whether to prosecute Boeing by July 7th.
While Boeing is striving to address its safety and quality issues, the company has decreased the production rate of the 737 MAX aircraft, leading to a decline in stock prices and prompting adjustments in senior management.