Boeing is under scrutiny after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accused the company of violating regulations by sharing non-public investigative information related to an aviation incident that occurred on a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with the media. The incident in question involved an Alaska Airlines flight that had to make an emergency landing after a fuselage panel blew out mid-flight. As a result of Boeing’s actions, the NTSB has barred the company from accessing information gathered during the investigation and from participating in an upcoming investigative hearing on the case.
Boeing recently invited the news media to a tour and briefing on its efforts to improve quality control, but the NTSB claims that Boeing breached the embargo agreement by providing non-public investigative information and speculating on the possible causes of the January 5 incident. The NTSB criticized Boeing for disregarding the agreement that requires them to refer all comments on the investigation to the agency. Boeing has since apologized to the NTSB and stated that they are willing to cooperate as the investigation continues.
The NTSB’s investigation into the Alaska Airlines incident revealed that four bolts securing the door plug were missing, prompting further inquiry into what went wrong. Elizabeth Lund, a senior vice president at Boeing, came under fire for her comments to reporters regarding the work on the door plug. The NTSB clarified that their focus is on determining the probable cause of the accident rather than assigning blame to individuals. Additionally, the NTSB disclosed that they are working with the Department of Justice, which is considering taking legal action against Boeing for breaching a deferred prosecution agreement related to previous MAX aircraft crashes.
Boeing’s unauthorized release of investigative information has prompted the NTSB to coordinate with the Department of Justice to provide details about the incident in question. The NTSB emphasized that their priority is to determine the cause of the accident and not to place blame on specific individuals. Boeing has acknowledged its mistake and expressed regret for overstepping the NTSB’s role as the primary source of investigative information. Moving forward, Boeing has committed to complying with the NTSB’s regulations and ensuring that all communication related to ongoing investigations follows proper protocol.
