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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed civil penalties totaling $3,139,319 against Boeing for a series of safety violations identified between September 2023 and February 2024. The enforcement action follows a high-profile incident on January 5, 2024, when a door plug detached mid-flight from a Boeing 737 MAX 9, prompting renewed scrutiny of the aircraft manufacturer’s quality control practices.
According to the FAA, investigations uncovered hundreds of quality system breaches at Boeing’s 737 production facility in Renton, Washington, and at Spirit AeroSystems’ plant in Wichita, Kansas. The agency stated that Boeing submitted two aircraft for certification that failed to meet airworthiness standards and did not adhere to its internal quality protocols.
In a separate finding, the FAA reported that a Boeing employee—operating outside the company’s authorized delegation system—pressured a member of the Organisation Designation Authorisation (ODA) unit to approve a 737 MAX aircraft despite known noncompliance. The agency linked this interference to Boeing’s delivery schedule targets.
The FAA emphasized that the proposed fines represent the maximum allowable under current law. Boeing has 30 days from receipt of the notice to respond.
The penalties add to growing concerns over Boeing’s safety culture and oversight, as regulators and lawmakers continue to examine the company’s manufacturing and certification processes.
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