Boeing 737 Max workers reported feeling pressured to work quickly, which led to errors, including missing door bolts on a January flight, according to testimony released during a two-day National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearing. The incident involved a door plug detaching mid-flight, leaving a large hole in the aircraft's side and causing significant passenger distress. Employees cited high workloads, insufficient training, and inadequate communication between Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, the supplier of the aircraft's fuselage, as contributing factors to the mishap.
The fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Boeing 737-9 MAX, which was forced to make an emergency landing with a gap in the fuselage, is seen during its investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board in Portland, Oregon, on January 7, 2024. NTSB/Handout/Reuters
Despite NTSB's preliminary findings highlighting these issues, Boeing's quality control executives faced scrutiny during the hearing. NTSB aims to understand the actions leading up to the incident and to propose improvements to safety protocols. The incident has also triggered further federal investigations and intensified FAA scrutiny, adding to Boeing's financial woes and ongoing public trust issues since the 737 Max's earlier fatal crashes. The final report on this incident is expected in a few months.
