The Federal Aviation Administration announced several additional actions in reference to problems with the Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. These actions come one day after the FAA formally notified Boeing that it had launched an investigation into the company as a result of the Jan. 5 incident on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 in which the aircraft lost a passenger door plug while in flight.

The latest actions include the FAA conducting:

• An audit involving the Boeing 737-9 MAX production line and its suppliers to evaluate Boeing’s compliance with its approved quality procedures. The results of the FAA’s audit analysis will determine whether additional audits are necessary.
• Increased monitoring of Boeing 737-9 MAX in-service events.
• Assessment of safety risks around delegated authority and quality oversight, and examination of options to move these functions under independent, third-party entities.
  
  
• 
  Mike Whitaker, FAA administrator, said it’s time to re-examine the delegation of authority and assess any associated safety risks. The grounding of the 737-9 and the multiple production-related issues identified in recent years, he said, “require us to look at every option to reduce risk.” He added: “The FAA is exploring the use of an independent third party to oversee Boeing’s inspections and its quality system.”

Image: Shutterstock