Boeing Admits Inability to Locate Records for Malfunctioning Door Panel
Alaska Airlines Grounds Fleet Following Alarming Incident
New Delhi: In a recent letter to Congress, Boeing, the leading aerospace company, made a startling revelation. The company admitted its failure to locate records pertaining to maintenance performed on a door panel that malfunctioned during an Alaska Airlines flight over Oregon. With safety concerns surrounding Boeing aircraft, this revelation further adds to the growing scrutiny that the company faces.
Alaska Airlines Grounds Fleet: Emergency Landing in Oregon
Alaska Airlines took the precautionary measure of suspending operations of its Boeing 737-9 fleet on January 5, following a harrowing incident. While in midair, a window and a part of the fuselage on one of their planes blew out, leading to an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci confirmed the grounding, stating that all 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft are temporarily out of service.
Boeing’s Investigation Raises Concerns
Investigations by Boeing have revealed a potential lack of crucial documentation. The company’s “working hypothesis” suggests that records relating to the removal and reinstallation of the panel on the 737 MAX final assembly line, located in Renton, Washington, may have never been generated. Despite Boeing’s required systems, the evidence for this procedure seems to be absent.
Boeing Faces Challenges in Cooperation
Boeing recently found itself in a heated Senate committee hearing where its cooperation with investigators was called into question. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accused Boeing of non-disclosure concerning the identities of employees who worked on door panels for Boeing 737s. The company also failed to provide documentation concerning repair tasks involving the removal and reinstallation of the door panel, raising further concerns about Boeing’s safety management and quality assurance.
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Senator Cantwell Demands Response
Senator Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington, demanded a response from Boeing within 48 hours of the Senate hearing. The hearing shed light on the issue, compelling Boeing to provide the NTSB with the names of employees involved in door panel work, some of which were already shared. However, Boeing reiterated its inability to locate documentation, stating that it was unaware of any collaboration issues until the hearing.
The FAA Grants Boeing Time to Address Concerns
Following the alarming incident involving an Alaska Airlines Max 9 aircraft, in which a panel covering an emergency door blew off, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted Boeing a 90-day period to tackle quality-control concerns raised by the agency and an industry-government panel. Despite previous enhancements, Boeing continues to face ongoing safety culture issues since the tragic crashes of the Max 8 jets resulting in the loss of 346 lives in 2018 and 2019.
