FAA Proposes $3.1M Fine Against Boeing for Safety Violations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $3.1 million fine against Boeing for numerous safety violations linked to manufacturing defects that caused a January 2024 explosive decompression incident on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max. Investigations revealed hundreds of quality system failures at Boeing’s Renton, Washington facility and Spirit AeroSystems’ Wichita, Kansas factory, including presenting two unairworthy aircraft for certification and pressuring inspectors to approve jets that failed safety standards to meet delivery deadlines. The National Transportation Safety Board attributed the door plug failure to improperly installed or missing bolts, citing inadequate employee training and poor oversight. Additionally, the FAA uncovered troubling internal pressures within Boeing, where non-FAA authorized employees influenced Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) members to approve aircraft that did not meet regulatory standards. Boeing’s CEO Kelly Ortberg has pledged to strengthen safety culture and improve production quality as the company works to stabilize output and increase monthly aircraft production. Boeing now has 30 days to respond to the FAA’s penalty letters before the fines become final.