The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday it will audit boeingproduction line, a week after a door stopper exploded Alaska Airlines 737 Maximum 9.
The agency said it is considering using “an independent third party” to oversee Boeing's inspections and the quality of its manufacturing.
The FAA grounded more than 170 Boeing 737 Max 9s, the majority of the world's fleet, after that incident. The agency said the audit applies to Boeing's production line for that plane model and its suppliers “to evaluate Boeing's compliance with its approved quality procedures.”
“The results of the FAA's audit analysis will determine whether additional audits are necessary,” the agency said.
The FAA said it will also assess risks related to Boeing's ability to self-monitor quality control and other aspects of airplane production. The agency on Thursday announced an investigation into whether the manufacturer failed to ensure that its planes were airworthy and conform to their design.
“The grounding of the 737-9 and the multiple production-related issues identified in recent years require us to explore all options to reduce risk,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a statement.
Boeing said in a statement that it welcomes the FAA's announcement that it “will cooperate fully and transparently with our regulator. We support all actions that strengthen quality and safety and are taking action across our entire production system.”
Earlier this week, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun told staff that the company recognizes its “mistake” and said it would move past the incident, Boeing's latest and most serious defect in recent years.
No serious injuries were reported on the Alaska Airlines flight and no one was sitting next to the panel that exploded or in the seat next to it.
Still, the incident intensifies scrutiny on Boeing's quality problems and on regulators who oversee the industry.
“The FAA conducts final safety checks and issues airworthiness certificates for newly produced Boeing 737s,” the agency said.
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