Boeing manufacturing and design issues: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 NTSB 05.jpg|thumb|An emergency exit door ejected from [[Alaska Airlines Flight 1282|an Alaska Airlines flight]] in January 2024 as a result of a manufacturing issue.]] |
[[File:Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 NTSB 05.jpg|thumb|An emergency exit door ejected from [[Alaska Airlines Flight 1282|an Alaska Airlines flight]] in January 2024 as a result of a manufacturing issue.]] |
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'''Boeing manufacturing issues''' include the oversights that occurred in the manufacturing of aircraft produced by [[Boeing]] beginning in |
'''Boeing manufacturing issues''' include the oversights that occurred in the manufacturing of aircraft produced by [[Boeing]] beginning in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/20/business/boeing-dreamliner-production-problems.html |title=Claims of Shoddy Production Draw Scrutiny to a Second Boeing Jet |date=April 20, 2019 |last1=Kitroeff |first1=Natalie |last2=Gelles |first2=David |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=March 12, 2024}}</ref> |
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In August 2023, Boeing discovered improperly installed [[aft pressure bulkhead]]s in certain [[Boeing 737 MAX]] aircraft. Concerns over Boeing manufacturing issues mounted in January 2024, when an emergency exit door ejected from [[Alaska Airlines Flight 1282]], causing [[uncontrolled decompression]]. The [[Federal Aviation Administration]] and the [[National Transportation Safety Board]] initiated inquiries in response to the incident; the former's investigation discovered further instances of manufacturing lapses. |
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==Manufacturing issues== |
==Manufacturing issues== |
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Revision as of 22:00, 12 March 2024
Boeing manufacturing issues include the oversights that occurred in the manufacturing of aircraft produced by Boeing beginning in 2012.[1]
In August 2023, Boeing discovered improperly installed aft pressure bulkheads in certain Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Concerns over Boeing manufacturing issues mounted in January 2024, when an emergency exit door ejected from Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, causing uncontrolled decompression. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board initiated inquiries in response to the incident; the former's investigation discovered further instances of manufacturing lapses.
Manufacturing issues
Aft pressure bulkheads
In August 2023, Boeing discovered improperly drilled holes in aft pressure bulkheads in certain 737 MAX aircraft, forcing manufacturing delays.[2]
Rudder control systems
In December 2023, Boeing urged airlines to inspect 737 MAX aircraft for loose bolts in their rudder control systems after an unnamed international airline discovered a bolt with a missing nut. Boeing discovered an additional 737 Max with an improperly-tightened nut in an undelivered 737 MAX.[3]
Door panels
On January 5, 2024, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 experienced uncontrolled decompression after door plugs securing the emergency exit door panel ejected on the Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft used on the flight; the configuration on the 737 MAX 9 included fewer seats than Boeing designs for, necessitating a door plug to obstruct an unneeded exit on row 26 adjacent to two unoccupied seats.[4] The fuselage and door plugs were initially manufactured by Spirit AeroSystems and the 737 MAX 9 involved in the incident was certified in November.[5]
Responses
Immediate response
Following Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a mass grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes in order to conduct inspections. Alaska Airlines canceled approximately one hundred flights on January 6, 2024, and United Airlines suspended uninspected 737 MAX 9s, leading to sixty cancellations.[5] By January 7, Alaska Airlines had canceled 170 flights, affecting 25,000 customers.[4]
Domestic reactions
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 was the subject of a Saturday Night Live segment.[6]
Investigations
National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board initiated an inquiry into Boeing following Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, discovering that bolts intended to secure a fuselage panel were not installed prior to the flight.[7]
Federal Aviation Administration
In March 2024, The New York Times reported that Boeing failed nearly three dozen audits during an examination.[8]
U.S. Department of Justice
In March 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States Department of Justice had started a criminal investigation into Boeing, interviewing the crew on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282.[9]
References
- ^ Kitroeff, Natalie; Gelles, David (April 20, 2019). "Claims of Shoddy Production Draw Scrutiny to a Second Boeing Jet". The New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Johnsson, Julie (August 23, 2023). "Boeing finds new 737 MAX defect, threatening delivery target". Bloomberg News. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Levenson, Michael (December 28, 2023). "Boeing Urges Airlines to Inspect 737 Max Planes for Possible Loose Bolts". The New York Times. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Schuetze, Christopher; Bradsher, Keith; Eddy, Melissa (January 5, 2024). "What to Know About Boeing's 737 Max 9 and the Alaska Airlines Grounding". The New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ a b Yoon, John; Kim, Victoria; Mayorquin, Orlando; Chokshi, Niraj; Walker, Mark (January 5, 2024). "F.A.A. Orders Airlines to Ground Some Boeing 737 Max 9 Jets After Midair 'Incident'". The New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Girgis, Lauren (January 21, 2024). "'Saturday Night Live' sketch lampoons Alaska Airlines over midair blowout". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Chokshi, Niraj; Walker, Mark (January 8, 2024). "Panel on Boeing Plane May Not Have Been Properly Attached, Agency Says". The New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Walker, Mark (March 11, 2024). "F.A.A. Audit of Boeing's 737 Max Production Found Dozens of Issues". The New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Tangel, Andrew; Michaels, Dave; Sider, Alison (March 9, 2024). "Justice Department Opens Probe, Interviews Crew in Alaska Airlines Blowout". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 12, 2024.