Boeing is facing new criticism after the revelation 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 off mid-flight .
This sharing of information infuriated the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which called it a “blatant violation” of its investigation rules. The NTSB is investigating the crash and says Boeing is not permitted to discuss details or speculate about the causes. 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 deadly Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, which raised concerns about Boeing’s previous assurances of improved safety measures. The January incident and employee reports suggest those changes have not been enough.
However, Boeing is making some changes. It requires more rigorous inspections of plane bodies before final assembly and has reduced production due to restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. It has also implemented more training for new hires and is streamlining procedures to reduce errors.
Overall, this incident highlights Boeing’s ongoing struggle to regain trust after past safety issues. While they are making changes, the NTSB’s response shows the importance of following investigation protocol.
