Boeing failed to offer training, oversight to prevent blowout

Boeing failed to provide adequate training, guidance and oversight to prevent a mid-air cabin panel blowout of a new 737 MAX 9 flight in January 2024 that spun the planemaker into a major crisis, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on Tuesday.

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The board harshly criticized Boeing’s safety culture and its failure to install four key bolts in a new Alaska Airlines MAX 9 during production, as well as ineffective oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said at a board meeting the incident was entirely avoidable because the planemaker should have addressed unauthorized production that was identified in numerous Boeing internal audits, reports and other forums for at least 10 years.

“The safety deficiencies that led to this accident should have been evident to Boeing and to the FAA,” Ms. Homendy said. “It’s nothing short of a miracle that no one died or sustained serious physical injuries.”