Boeing is facing potential criminal prosecution following the fatal 2018 and 2019 737 MAX crashes. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to maintain Boeing’s current production cap for the 737 MAX model for a few more months as safety concerns are addressed, according to FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker on May 30.
During a press conference after meeting with Boeing officials, including outgoing CEO Dave Calhoun, Mr. Whitaker stated that the FAA ordered Boeing to implement a comprehensive safety plan and imposed a production cap of 38 planes per month for the 737 MAX following an incident on Jan. 5 involving an Alaskan Airlines door panel.
Boeing is required to fulfill these obligations before production increases can be approved beyond the current cap. Mr. Whitaker emphasized that this plan signifies increased oversight of Boeing and its suppliers, with further changes expected.
Boeing is still behind schedule with deliveries due to the production cap, and discussions about lifting the cap have not yet taken place. The company has introduced new training materials and equipment to address safety and quality concerns.
Boeing may face criminal prosecution from the U.S. government for violating a settlement agreement related to the 737 MAX crashes. The Department of Justice is set to meet with crash victims’ families and legal counsel to address this issue.
Boeing denies breaching the deferred prosecution agreement and is cooperating with the Department of Justice’s inquiries. Stay tuned for updates on this developing situation.
Original article source: The Epoch Times. Reuters contributed to this report.
