Boeing faces continued scrutiny after 737 MAX incident, says outgoing US transport secretary

January 2024 incident highlights ongoing challenges at Boeing
Outgoing US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg has stated that Boeing still has substantial work ahead in improving its corporate culture and safety protocols. These concerns follow the January 2024 incident in which a door panel missing four crucial bolts detached from a new 737 MAX 9 during flight. Buttigieg emphasized that while progress has been made, there is much more to be done.

Buttigieg said, “There are still major issues to address... much work is left to be done. While Boeing is making progress in changing its culture, the true measure of success will be whether they can consistently demonstrate improvement over time.”

Despite Boeing’s ongoing efforts, Buttigieg stressed that the company’s commitment to safety and quality improvement needs to be further evaluated.

Boeing declined to comment on Buttigieg’s remarks.

FAA and Boeing response to safety issues

The 5th January 2024, incident involving a Boeing 737 MAX operated by Alaska Airlines highlighted serious safety concerns, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement stricter oversight of the manufacturer. The incident, in which a door panel detached mid-flight at 16,000 feet, led to the FAA’s decision to limit Boeing’s production of the 737 MAX to 38 planes per month and temporarily ground 170 aircraft.

Following the incident, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker announced continued tougher oversight of Boeing. In February Whitaker had issued a directive requiring the company to create an extensive plan focused on enhancing safety and quality standards. Whitaker had previously acknowledged that the FAA’s oversight of Boeing had been insufficient, and he had added that it could take up to five years for the company to fully address its safety culture issues.

In response, Boeing has made efforts to enhance its safety and quality assurance systems. This includes the implementation of random quality audits and improvements to its 737 fuselage assembly process at supplier Spirit AeroSystems, reducing defects by increasing inspection points and introducing a new customer quality approval process.

In addition to the ongoing audits and improvements, the FAA conducted a new audit of Boeing in October 2024. All these actions are part of the broader effort to address the concerns raised by the January incident and ensure Boeing meets the required safety standards.

Buttigieg calls for continued consumer protections in airline industry

In a separate statement, Buttigieg expressed hope that the incoming administration under President-elect Donald Trump will continue his department’s focus on protecting airline passengers, particularly in cases of flight delays. Buttigieg has been a strong advocate for consumer rights and has emphasized that airline passengers should always come first in any reckoning of airline performance.

But Buttigieg added, “I didn’t observe them running on a platform that was less supportive of passengers than our approach.”

Pete Buttigieg, who ran for president in 2020 and has served as the US secretary of transportation, has yet to announce his future career plans. However, he is seen by some Democratic circles as a potential candidate for Michigan governorship in 2026.

FAQs on the Boeing 737 MAX incident and ongoing safety challenges

1. What happened in the January 2024 Boeing 737 MAX incident?

In January 2024, a Boeing 737 MAX 9 operated by Alaska Airlines experienced a serious safety issue when a door panel detached mid-flight at 16,000 feet. The panel was missing four crucial bolts, leading to a significant safety concern for both the airline and Boeing.

2. How did the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) respond to the incident?

Following the incident, the FAA took immediate action by capping Boeing’s production of the 737 MAX to 38 planes per month and grounding 170 affected aircraft. The FAA also announced increased oversight of Boeing’s manufacturing and safety procedures to ensure such issues do not recur.

3. What changes is Boeing making to improve safety and quality?

Boeing has implemented a series of safety and quality improvement measures, including random quality audits, better inspection processes at its fuselage supplier Spirit AeroSystems, and a new customer quality approval process. The company is also working on improving its internal culture to prevent similar incidents in the future.

4. What does Pete Buttigieg say about Boeing’s progress?

Pete Buttigieg, the outgoing U.S. Transportation Secretary, acknowledged that while Boeing has made progress, there is still much work to be done. He emphasized that Boeing’s culture change efforts are a work in progress and that the company must continue to improve its safety practices and results consistently.

5. How long will it take for Boeing to fully address its safety culture?

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker mentioned that it could take up to five years for Boeing to fully fix its safety culture. This timeline reflects the ongoing efforts to overhaul the company’s approach to safety and quality control.

6. What actions have been taken to hold Boeing accountable?

Boeing has faced increased scrutiny from both the FAA and the U.S. Transportation Department. In addition to the production caps and grounding of aircraft, Boeing is required to implement a comprehensive safety and quality improvement plan. The FAA is conducting audits to ensure compliance with new safety standards.

7. What role did Pete Buttigieg play in addressing the incident?

Pete Buttigieg has been vocal about the need for stronger consumer protections and stricter airline safety regulations. He has urged the incoming administration to continue these efforts to safeguard passengers, especially in light of recent safety issues with Boeing and other air carriers.

8. What is the future of Pete Buttigieg after his tenure as Transportation Secretary?

While Pete Buttigieg has not announced his future plans, some Democratic circles speculate that he could run for Michigan governor in 2026. His involvement in key transportation and consumer protection issues has kept him in the political spotlight.