The US Department of Justice has initiated a criminal investigation into the recent mid-flight incident involving a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by Alaska Airlines. The incident, which occurred on January 5, resulted in a blowout during the flight, prompting concerns about the safety of Boeing’s aircraft.
The investigation includes interviews with witnesses, particularly members of the aircrew, to determine the root cause of the incident. Alaska Airlines has stated that it is fully cooperating with authorities and does not believe that it is the main focus of the probe. On the other hand, Boeing has declined to comment on the matter.
This investigation comes in the wake of increased scrutiny of Boeing’s safety record following the tragic crashes involving the Boeing 737 MAX in 2018 and 2019. The Department of Justice’s probe will also assess whether Boeing has upheld a $2.5bn settlement intended to prevent prosecution in connection to the previous crashes.
Moreover, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has uncovered non-compliance issues in Boeing’s manufacturing processes during an audit, giving Boeing a 90-day deadline to rectify these issues. Additionally, a separate FAA report highlighted serious problems within Boeing’s safety culture, including concerns about potential retaliation towards employees with safety-related worries.
Boeing has admitted that it was unable to find records related to the work done on the door panel that detached from the Alaska Airlines plane. The company suggested that the absence of these records may be due to a failure to create them despite internal regulations mandating documentation.
The Department of Justice’s investigation will be crucial in examining the safety protocols and compliance standards within Boeing’s operations, which are essential to safeguarding the well-being of passengers and aircrew. The findings of this probe could have significant implications for the future of Boeing and the aviation industry as a whole.
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