WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Boeing Chief Executive Officer Dave Calhoun met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill Wednesday to answer questions about the 737 Max 9 aircraft following a series of mechanical issues recently.
"We fly safe planes. We don't put airplanes in the air that we don't have one-hundred percent confidence in," Calhoun told a group of reporters. "I'm here today in the spirit of transparency to, number one, recognize the seriousness of what you just asked, number two, to share everything I can with our Capitol Hill interests and to answer all their questions because they have a lot of them."
Calhoun declined to comment on claims regarding quality control measures in its Renton, Washington plant, citing the ongoing National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation. A Boeing spokesperson wrote, "as the air safety agency responsible for investigating this accident, only the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board can release information about the investigation. As a party to this investigation, Boeing is not able to comment and will refer you to the NTSB for any information.”
Meanwhile, the NTSB said an investigator will return to the factory in Renton Friday as part of the investigation.
"NTSB investigators will build a timeline from the early stages of production of the door plug to the accident flight," a spokesperson wrote in a statement. "As part of the investigative process, NTSB investigators will review documentation related to the airplane, including production, manufacturing and maintenance."
The agency asks anyone with information to share to contact witness@ntsb.gov.
It comes as leadership for Alaska Airlines and United have been speaking out about their concerns.
"I'm more than frustrated and disappointed - I'm angry," Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in an exclusive interview with NBC News. "This happened to Alaska Airlines. It happened to our guests, it happened to our people."
Meanwhile, United CEO Scott Kirby said the company has been considering cancelling future orders.
"Right now, we need to get through the Max, we're doing that, but on the backside of this, what are the actions to really get the manufacturing process back to the high levels of quality, consistency, that historically existed at Boeing," Kirby said.