FAA Halts Production Expansion of Boeing 737 MAX After Audit Finds Quality Control Issues

by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 3:15 PM ET, Mon March 4, 2024

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it has halted production expansion of the Boeing 737 MAX following a six-week audit of Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems.

According to the FAA, it "found multiple instances where the companies allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements" in the wake of a January 5 incident in which a door panel blew off an Alaska Airlines flight in mid-air.

"The FAA identified non-compliance issues in Boeing's manufacturing process control, parts handling and storage, and product control. The FAA is providing these details to the public as an update to the agency’s ongoing investigation," the agency said Monday.

"To hold Boeing accountable for its production quality issues, the FAA has halted production expansion of the Boeing 737 MAX, is exploring the use of a third party to conduct independent reviews of quality systems, and will continue its increased onsite presence at Boeing’s facility in Renton, Washington, and Spirit AeroSystems’ facility in Wichita, Kansas."

Boeing has 90 days to form a comprehensive corrective action plan.

Last week, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker met with Boeing's CEO and other senior leaders, notifying them they must address the audit's findings as part of its plan to correct the systemic issues. The company must also address the findings from the expert review panel report that examined Boeing's safety culture.

The FAA said it will thoroughly review all of Boeing's corrective actions to determine if they fully address its findings.

Last month, it was announced that the head of Boeing's 737 MAX program Ed Clark was leaving the company and being replaced by Vice President, 737 Delivery Operations, Katie Ringgold.