01/17/2024

Amid Scrutiny, Boeing Promises More Quality Checks

Some worry that this isn't enough

After a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jet mid-flight, leaving a hole in the side of the plane and forcing an emergency landing, the airplane maker has been scrambling to restore confidence in the company's grounded aircrafts and get them back in the air.

Among other changes, the company is adding new quality inspections to 737 production lines at Boeing factories as well as Boeing's third party parts supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, according to a Monday statement. Spirit AeroSystems is the company that made the door plug involved in the incident on Jan. 5.

Boeing's Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stan Deal also noted that airline customers, including Alaska and United Airlines, will be allowed to send their own inspectors to the factories, after both reported finding loose parts on their recently purchased 737 Max 9 planes.

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