Boeing will not be expanding its fleet of 737 Max planes anytime soon, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The aircraft manufacturer continues to address the repercussions of a January 5 incident involving an Alaska Airlines passenger plane. During this flight, a door plug detached mid-air, necessitating an emergency landing. Thankfully, no passengers sustained serious injuries, but the FAA has since prohibited Boeing from increasing production of Max plane models until the company resolves outstanding quality and safety concerns.
This incident led the FAA to intensify its oversight of Boeing, implementing rigorous measures discussed with reporters last week. Following a three-hour meeting with Boeing executives at the FAA headquarters, the agency hosted a press conference.
FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker addressed a reporter’s question regarding the timeline for Boeing’s potential expansion of 737 Max production. We don’t have a timeframe, but I don’t think it will happen in the next few months,” Whitaker stated in a video shared by CBS News.
In January, the FAA grounded 171 Boeing 737-9 Max planes and initiated an investigation into Boeing’s production lines and manufacturing practices, halting all Max plane production that month.
“This is about systemic change, and there’s a lot of work to be done. Boeing must meet milestones, and the timing of our decisions will be driven by their ability to do so,” the FAA conveyed in a statement to Business Insider.
Additionally, the FAA released a news statement on Thursday, detailing its meeting with Boeing leaders. The company presented an 11-page ‘road map’ outlining their strategy to enhance quality and safety standards. The FAA noted that Boeing developed the proposed Product Safety and Quality Plan over 90 days with “detailed” input from the agency.
This ongoing scrutiny underscores the FAA’s commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards, reflecting the broader industry implications of maintaining rigorous oversight on aircraft manufacturing processes.