Boeing is facing renewed criticism after disclosure of a January crash involving a 737 Max plane. During a factory tour, a Boeing executive revealed details about missing bolts that led to a panel coming loose in flight.
The information sharing has angered the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which called it a “blatant violation” of its own investigation rules. The NTSB is investigating the crash and says Boeing is not allowed to discuss details or speculate about the cause. As punishment, they will limit Boeing’s access to investigation information and prevent them from questioning others at an upcoming hearing.
This comes after two fatal Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, which raised concerns about Boeing’s previous assurances of improved safety measures. The January crash and employee reports suggest those changes were not enough.
However, Boeing is making some changes. They require more rigorous inspections of plane bodies before final assembly and have scaled back production due to restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. They have also implemented more training for new hires and are streamlining procedures to reduce errors.
Overall, this accident highlights Boeing’s ongoing struggle to regain trust after past safety issues. While they are making changes, the NTSB’s reaction shows the importance of following investigative protocol.
