Former high-ranking Boeing executives and engineers are sounding alarms, advising travelers to steer clear of the troubled 737 MAX 9 jets as the aircraft returns to service.
“I would unequivocally avoid flying in a MAX airplane,” declared Ed Pierson, a former senior Boeing manager, discussing the model that recently experienced a midair door plug failure during an Alaska Airlines flight. Pierson, who worked in the aircraft’s manufacturing facility, expressed concern about the intense pressure employees faced to expedite the production process.
Joe Jacobsen, a former Boeing engineer with experience at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), echoed these warnings. He cautioned against the premature resumption of flights by airlines, including Alaska, emphasizing that his time at Boeing revealed a prioritization of profits over quality control.
Boeing’s fleet underwent temporary grounding for federal inspection after an Alaska Airlines plane had to make an emergency landing due to a mid-flight section blowout, causing injury to a passenger. CEO David Calhoun acknowledged a “quality escape,” pledging that such incidents would not recur.
Addressing employees in a subsequent email, Calhoun conceded that increased scrutiny following the incident highlighted the need for further improvements in safety and quality processes.
Pierson, who had advocated for grounding the planes even before the 2018 Lion Air crash, highlighted a study by his Foundation for Aviation Safety, revealing over 1,300 safety problem reports on Boeing’s MAX 8 and MAX 9 planes filed with the FAA.
Jacobsen criticized Boeing for prioritizing profit and consistently choosing the lowest bidder over the last two decades. He likened the company’s approach to a game of Whack-a-Mole, addressing issues only when they became evident.
The National Transportation Safety Board is set to release preliminary findings on the Alaska Airlines incident shortly, while the FAA has permitted airlines to resume MAX flights after an exhaustive review.
Alaska Airlines committed to flying MAX 9s only after rigorous inspections, with about half completed as of last Monday. United also resumed MAX 9 flights, starting from Newark to Las Vegas.
Jacobsen, a former FAA engineer, argued that the FAA’s decision to allow flights was premature, citing longstanding safety concerns raised by him and other advocates. Last year, the FAA cautioned pilots to limit the use of an anti-ice system after a serious defect was discovered.
Boeing, seeking an exemption for the MAX 7s from an anti-ice system change, withdrew its petition. The company, facing a 19% stock price drop since the midair incident, is expected to release its fourth-quarter earnings.
In an email to employees, Calhoun acknowledged tough conversations with customers, regulators, and lawmakers, recognizing the need for continued efforts to enhance safety and quality processes.
“This increased scrutiny — whether from ourselves, from our regulator, or from others — will make us better,” he reassured the team, acknowledging the serious challenge ahead.
{Matzav.com}
Boeing Max?
Showing cracks.