Safety
FAA Calls for ‘Action Plan’ to Address Boeing’s Deficient Quality Control
Agency insists that Boeing meets non-negotiable safety standards
Alaska Airlines hole in 737 Max 9
The FAA has called on Boeing to address quality control failures during 737 Max production following the incident in which a door plug detached from an Alaska Airlines Max 9. © NTSB

FAA administrator Mike Whitaker has given Boeing's senior leaders 90 days to develop a “comprehensive action plan” to address its systemic quality-control deficiencies at the aircraft manufacturer. Whitaker made the remarks on Tuesday during an all-day safety discussion at FAA headquarters in Washington, D.C. to meet the agency's non-negotiable safety standards. The meetings addressed safety lapses before the January 5 incident in which a door plug “blew out” from an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 in mid-flight.

“Boeing must commit to real and profound improvements,” Whitaker said following a meeting with Boeing CEO and president Dave Calhoun and his senior safety team. “Making foundational change will require a sustained effort from Boeing’s leadership, and we are going to hold them accountable every step of the way, with mutually understood milestones and expectations.”