Boeing factory workers have come forward with accounts of feeling pressured to work too quickly and being assigned tasks they were not qualified for, such as handling the door plug that later caused an Alaska Airlines jet to experience a blowout. These revelations were made during a two-day hearing by federal investigators into the incident, which has further damaged Boeing’s safety reputation and put the company at risk of legal repercussions.
One Boeing employee stated that while they were never explicitly told to take shortcuts, there was a general atmosphere of pressure to keep the assembly line moving quickly, leading to potential mistakes. Another worker mentioned that there was a lack of specific training for handling door plugs, and workers should not have been tasked with opening or closing the panels.
The panel that caused the blowout on the Boeing 737 Max was manufactured and installed by Spirit AeroSystems, a supplier to Boeing. It was removed at a Boeing factory for repairs, but crucial bolts securing the door plug were not replaced. The exact circumstances of who removed the panel remain unclear.
Employees at the Renton, Washington factory described feeling overwhelmed by having to take on tasks beyond their usual responsibilities due to a lack of accountability within Boeing’s safety culture. The NTSB released over 3,000 pages of documents detailing the workers’ testimonies and the events leading up to the blowout.
The hearing also shed light on the chaotic aftermath of the accident, which caused decompression so severe that it damaged the cockpit door and forced the co-pilot to remove their headset. Passengers and crew on the Alaska Airlines flight experienced a harrowing ordeal, with objects being sucked out of the plane through the hole created by the blowout.
Boeing and Spirit executives cited turnover and lack of experience among their workforce as contributing factors to the incident. Efforts are being made to increase training and improve safety measures to prevent similar accidents in the future.
The NTSB will continue its investigation to determine the root cause of the blowout, with a focus on addressing safety concerns in Boeing’s manufacturing processes. The FAA has imposed production limits on Boeing until it is assured of the company’s ability to produce safe aircraft.
Witnesses are expected to provide testimony on the FAA’s oversight of Boeing and efforts to enhance safety measures in the wake of the incident. Several investigations into Boeing’s practices are ongoing, including probes by the FBI and the Justice Department.
Boeing, already reeling from previous crashes involving its Max jets, faces further financial losses and legal challenges as a result of the blowout. The company continues to work on improving safety protocols and preventing similar incidents in the future.
Later this week, the organization is set to welcome its third chief executive within a span of 4.5 years.
By David Koenig and Wyatte Grantham-Philips
