SEATTLE — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given Boeing 90 days to develop a comprehensive action plan to address "systemic quality control issues" at the company, according to a press release.
The demand comes almost two months after a door plug blew off a 737 Max 9 jet at 16,000 feet. A preliminary report by the NTSB revealed that bolts that were supposed to secure the door plug to the jet were left off after repair work was completed at the company's Renton factory.
“Boeing must commit to real and profound improvements,” Administrator Mike Whitaker said on Tuesday. “Making foundational change will require a sustained effort from Boeing’s leadership, and we are going to hold them accountable every step of the way, with mutually understood milestones and expectations.”
Just days ago, a report issued by the FAA concluded there is "a disconnect" between senior management and workers at the aerospace company, going on to say that employees who are responsible for checking the company's planes questioned whether they can raise issues without fear of retaliation.
The aviation industry and government experts also said safety training and procedures at Boeing are constantly changing, leading to confusion among employees.
The comprehensive plan will be required to incorporate feedback from the results of the FAA's audit of Boeing's production line and the latest findings from the recent report that questioned the safety culture at the company.
Multiple lawsuits have popped up in the aftermath of the door plug blowout, with passengers of the Alaska Airlines 1282 flight alleging that negligence on the part of Boeing endangered their lives and left them with lasting fear and trauma stemming from the incident.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.