Prosecutors in the United States have launched a criminal investigation into a mid-flight blowout involving a Boeing 737 MAX operated by Alaska Airlines. The incident, which occurred on January 5, saw a portion of the fuselage of the aircraft blow off mid-flight, prompting the Department of Justice (DOJ) to interview witnesses, including aircrew, as part of their probe. Alaska Airlines has stated that it is fully cooperating with authorities during the investigation, while Boeing has declined to comment.
This investigation comes as Boeing faces heightened scrutiny over its safety record following a series of incidents, including two fatal crashes involving the Boeing 737 MAX in 2018 and 2019. The DOJ probe is expected to inform authorities’ assessment of whether Boeing has adhered to the terms of a $2.5bn settlement reached to avoid prosecution in connection with those crashes. Additionally, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently identified “non-compliance issues” in Boeing’s manufacturing process control, parts handling, and product control following an audit of the company.
In a separate FAA report released last month, serious problems with Boeing’s safety culture were highlighted, including concerns among employees about facing retaliation for raising safety concerns. Boeing disclosed to the US Congress that it was unable to locate records for work completed on the door panel that detached from the Alaska Airlines plane during the blowout incident. The Seattle-based aircraft manufacturer stated that it believes records regarding the panel were never generated despite company regulations mandating such documentation, further adding to the complexity of the ongoing investigation and scrutiny surrounding Boeing’s practices.
