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 .
The information sharing has angered the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which called it a “blatant violation” of investigative rules. The NTSB is investigating the crash and says Boeing is not allowed to discuss details or speculate on the cause. As punishment, they will limit Boeing’s access to information about the investigation and bar it from questioning others at an upcoming hearing.
This comes after two fatal Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, which raised concerns about Boeing’s past assurances of improved safety measures. The January crash and employee reports suggest those changes have not been enough.
Boeing is making some changes, though. They are requiring more rigorous inspections of plane bodies before final assembly and have cut production due to restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. They have also implemented more training for new hires and are 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.