FAA seeking $3.1 million in fines from Boeing over numerous safety violations

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $3.1 million fine against Boeing for safety violations, particularly related to an incident involving an Alaska Airlines jetliner losing a door plug panel midflight [1][2]. Group 1: Incident Details - The proposed penalty is linked to safety violations that occurred from September 2023 to February 2024 [1]. - The incident in question involved a door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon in January 2024 [2]. - Fortunately, none of the 171 passengers or six crew members were seriously injured, and the pilots managed to land the plane safely [4]. Group 2: Investigation Findings - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted a 17-month investigation, concluding that lapses in Boeing's manufacturing and safety oversight, along with ineffective FAA inspections, contributed to the door plug blowout [4]. - The FAA identified hundreds of quality system violations at Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Washington, and at subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems' factory in Wichita, Kansas [5]. - Among the violations, a Boeing employee pressured a member of Boeing's Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) unit to approve a 737 Max airplane despite it not meeting applicable standards [6]. Group 3: Boeing's Response - Boeing has 30 days to respond to the FAA's proposed civil penalty [8]. - In a statement, Boeing indicated it is reviewing the proposed civil penalty and highlighted that it implemented a safety and quality plan last year under FAA oversight to enhance safety management and quality assurance [9]. - The company expressed regret over the January 2024 door-plug incident and is focused on strengthening its safety culture and improving accountability across operations [9]. Group 4: Historical Context - The Boeing 737 Max has faced ongoing issues since two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in the deaths of 346 people [10]. - In May, the Justice Department reached a deal allowing Boeing to avoid criminal prosecution for allegedly misleading U.S. regulators regarding the Max before the crashes [12].