Boeing Faces $3.1M Fines Over Safety and Quality Violations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed fines totaling $3.1 million against Boeing for multiple safety violations recorded from September 2023 through February 2024.

Included in this period is the January 2024 Alaska Airlines flight in which a Boeing 737 MAX 9 experienced a mid-air failure when a door plug panel detached, sparking nationwide concern.

While the incident did not result in any injuries, it triggered a safety review and a two-week grounding of the 737 MAX 9 fleet. The FAA also placed a production cap on Boeing’s output to improve quality controls.

FAA audits revealed that Boeing’s 737 Renton facility was responsible for hundreds of quality standards violations. They also found that Boeing presented two aircraft deemed unairworthy to the FAA for airworthiness certificates.

A particularly troubling case involved a non-Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) Boeing employee pressuring a Boeing ODA unit member to approve the delivery of a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft despite that member’s determination that it did not meet safety standards, allegedly to meet delivery deadlines.

Following a 17-month investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the incident stemmed from systemic weaknesses in Boeing’s manufacturing practices and federal oversight.

Boeing has 30 days to respond formally to the FAA’s proposed fines and penalty letters.

To explore the latest progress in aviation safety and the operational changes happening worldwide, see our explainer that discusses whether it is safe to fly right now and unpacks the causes of recent aviation accidents.

Photo by Sven Piper on Unsplash