Boeing faces DoJ probe; FAA sets safety deadline

The US Justice Department is investigating whether a door blowout violated the 2021 agreement with Boeing following two fatal plane crashes

The FAA has granted Boeing 90 days to devise a plan to rectify quality issues and comply with safety regulations for constructing new aircraft. This action comes as the Justice Department reportedly investigates whether a mid-flight plane door panel blowout in January violated a prior settlement agreement between Boeing and the US government.

On Wednesday, the FAA announced that this directive follows meetings with senior Boeing officials, including the company’s CEO, at FAA headquarters in Washington.

“Boeing must commit to substantial and lasting improvements,” stated FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker. “Implementing fundamental changes will demand ongoing dedication from Boeing’s leadership, and we will ensure they are held accountable throughout the process.”

The FAA announced the new deadline following a meeting between Whitaker and Boeing’s CEO, David Calhoun, along with other senior company executives.

The FAA is currently conducting an audit of the assembly lines at Boeing’s factory near Seattle, where planes like the 737 Max 9, which experienced a door-panel blowout in January, are built. Investigators found that bolts crucial for securing the panel were missing after repair work was performed on an Alaska Airlines jet at the Boeing facility.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department is investigating whether the January door incident violated a $2.5 billion deferred-prosecution agreement from 2021. This agreement allowed Boeing to settle criminal charges following two fatal plane crashes, as reported by Bloomberg and the New York Times.

The two crashes involving Boeing 737 Max planes, which occurred in Indonesia and Ethiopia, resulted in the deaths of 346 people.

Boeing, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, did not respond immediately to a request for comment.