Boeing is currently under a criminal investigation by the Department of Justice following an incident where a door panel ripped off a Boeing 737 Max midair in January. The DOJ has initiated the probe, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Boeing has informed Congress that they are unable to locate records for the work done on the door that blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight. It is believed that the records for the panel's removal and reinstallation were never created, despite Boeing's requirement.
This federal investigation into the door blowout incident may shed light on whether Boeing adhered to a settlement agreement after the fatal 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of Boeing's full cooperation in improving safety measures. The FAA has given Boeing a 90-day deadline to present a comprehensive plan to address their quality issues.
Buttigieg highlighted the significance of air travel safety, stating that flying remains one of the safest modes of transportation globally. Both Boeing and United Airlines have assured their cooperation with federal investigators, aiming to address the recent safety concerns.
Boeing faced a challenging week with two separate incidents involving United Airlines aircraft. In one instance, an engine on a United Airlines Boeing jet caught fire mid-flight due to a piece of bubble wrap being sucked into the engine. The plane landed safely in Houston, with no injuries reported. Additionally, a tire fell off a United Airlines Boeing 777 after takeoff from San Francisco, though the aircraft landed safely without any injuries or damage to property.
Despite these recent incidents, both Boeing and United Airlines are committed to ensuring passenger safety and are actively collaborating with authorities to address any safety issues.
