FAA sets 90-day deadline for Boeing to address quality issues

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directed Boeing to devise a thorough action plan within 90 days to tackle its widespread quality-control problems following the Alaska Airlines door plug blowout incident.

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker emphasized the urgent need for tangible improvements following discussions with Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun.

The directive comes after the FAA grounded 171 Boeing MAX 9 jets after the Alaska Airlines mishap, allowing them only after rigorous inspections. Production expansion of the 737 MAX planes remains halted.

An independent panel of the agency recently highlighted Boeing’s insufficient safety enhancements following the 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, where 346 people lost their lives.