The US Federal Aviation Administration will increase its oversight of Boeing’s production line as it reassesses safety risks a week after Alaska Airlines suffered a blowout shortly after take-off.
The accident involving a door plug – a panel fitted in place of an unused emergency exit – led to the grounding of 171 Boeing jets with the same configuration as the airline’s Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft.
“It is time to re-examine the delegation of authority and assess any associated safety risks,” FAA administrator Mike Whitaker said on Friday.
“The grounding of the 737-9 and the multiple production-related issues identified in recent years require us to look at every option to reduce risk.”
The FAA is exploring the use of an independent third party to oversee Boeing’s inspections and its quality checks, he said.
“The FAA’s statement reflects just how serious the issue is,” Addison Schonland, partner at US-based AirInsight, told The National.
“The FAA has a history with the Max that…