Boeing, the renowned aircraft manufacturer, is currently under a criminal inquiry by U.S. authorities. The investigation stems from an incident that occurred on an Alaska Airlines flight in early January, where a panel on one of Boeing’s planes blew out midair. While there were no serious injuries resulting from the incident, it could have had catastrophic consequences if the panel had blown out at a higher altitude.
The panel in question, known as a “door plug,” is used to cover a gap left by an unneeded exit door. A preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board suggests that the plane may have left Boeing’s factory without the plug properly bolted down. This alarming revelation has prompted the Justice Department to launch a criminal investigation into Boeing’s practices.
This is not the first time Boeing has faced scrutiny from U.S. authorities. In 2021, the company reached a settlement with the Justice Department over a federal criminal charge related to two fatal crashes involving its 737 Max 8 plane. As part of the settlement, Boeing agreed to pay over $2.5 billion in compensation to its customers. However, the deal received criticism for being too lenient and for not consulting the families of the 346 people who lost their lives in those crashes.
The Max 8 plane was involved in two crashes, one in Indonesia in late 2018 and another in Ethiopia in early 2019. As a result of these tragic incidents, the Max was grounded globally for 20 months. It only resumed service in late 2020 and has since been used in millions of flights, mostly without any major incidents. However, the recent incident on the Alaska Airlines flight raises concerns about the thoroughness of Boeing’s safety protocols.
Alaska Airlines, the operator of the affected aircraft, has assured that it is fully cooperating with the investigation. They believe that it is normal for the Department of Justice to conduct such inquiries in situations like this. However, it is worth noting that Boeing has not made any public comments on the matter.
The outcome of this criminal inquiry could have significant implications for Boeing. The company’s reputation has already been tarnished by the previous crashes involving the Max 8 plane. If further negligence or misconduct is uncovered during this investigation, it could further damage Boeing’s standing in the aviation industry.
In conclusion, Boeing is currently facing a criminal inquiry by U.S. authorities following an incident on an Alaska Airlines flight where a panel on one of their planes blew out midair. This investigation comes on the heels of a settlement reached between Boeing and the Justice Department over previous fatal crashes involving the 737 Max 8 plane. The outcome of this inquiry will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for Boeing and its standing in the aviation community.
