In a striking admission, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Michael Whitaker, conceded that the agency had previously adopted a too lenient approach towards regulating aircraft manufacturers. This acknowledgment came during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing focused on Boeing, following an incident in January where a door detached from a Boeing plane mid-flight due to missing bolts.
Whitaker highlighted a shift in the FAA’s oversight practices, stating, “FAA’s approach was too hands-off, too focused on paperwork audits, and not focused enough on inspections.” He assured the committee that the FAA has overhauled its methods, adopting an “audit plus inspection model” to enhance insight into Boeing’s operations and ensure such lapses in safety are not repeated.
The January incident involved a Boeing 737 Max operated by Alaska Airlines, which resulted in a nationwide grounding of the aircraft model and prompted mandatory inspections. Investigations into the matter revealed significant oversights in Boeing’s manufacturing processes and a concerning disregard for safety protocols. Whitaker remarked in March, “There are issues around the safety culture in Boeing. Their priorities have been focused on production and not on safety and quality,” underlining a critical need for cultural and procedural reforms within the company.
Following a comprehensive six-week audit, the FAA reported multiple violations of manufacturing quality control standards by Boeing, intensifying scrutiny on the aerospace giant from regulatory bodies and lawmakers alike. The fallout from these revelations has adversely impacted Boeing’s stock and attracted further attention from the U.S. Congress and the Justice Department, which initiated a criminal investigation into the matter.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a prominent member of the Senate Commerce Committee, expressed deep concerns about the ongoing issues, stating, “This is an ongoing issue. Obviously, what has happened with Boeing in recent months is deeply concerning. The NTSB is engaged in investigation dealing with the Alaska Airlines incident. That investigation needs to proceed to conclusion.”
The developments have underscored significant concerns regarding aviation safety and regulatory effectiveness, prompting calls for more stringent oversight to prevent future safety failures.