DOJ Launches Criminal Probe into Alaska Airlines Incident, Boeing Under Scrutiny

Key Takeaway

• DOJ launches criminal probe into Alaska Airlines door incident, with Boeing under FAA and NTSB scrutiny for missing door bolts.
• Boeing's manufacturing practices questioned after audit reveals quality control failures; company still under DOJ review for 737 Max issues.
• Concerns over Boeing's documentation and safety procedures highlighted, impacting regulatory compliance and investigation cooperation.

DOJ Investigates Alaska Airlines Incident

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated a criminal investigation into a mid-air incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight that occurred two months ago, where a door panel blew out, causing alarm among passengers. Alaska Airlines has stated, “In an event like this, it’s normal for the DOJ to be conducting an investigation. We are fully cooperating and do not believe we are a target of the investigation.” This probe is part of a broader scrutiny into Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, which has been under a civil investigation by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) since January regarding the same incident.

Manufacturing and Quality Control Concerns

A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) highlighted that four bolts meant to secure the door panel were missing, leading to the blowout. Following this, a six-week audit by the FAA into Boeing and its supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, revealed “multiple instances where the companies allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements.” This incident has raised questions about Boeing's adherence to manufacturing standards, especially since the company has been under a justice department deferred prosecution agreement since 2021, related to a separate issue involving the 737 Max aircraft.

Boeing's Compliance and Regulatory Scrutiny

Boeing's compliance with a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA), established after admitting to deceiving regulators about a design flaw in the 737 Max, is under review. This flaw was linked to two crashes in 2018 and 2019 that resulted in 346 fatalities. The Alaska Airlines incident occurred just two days before the expiration of Boeing's three-year probationary period under the DPA. Boeing has acknowledged in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that the DOJ is evaluating whether the company has fulfilled its obligations under the DPA.

Documentation and Safety Procedures

The incident has also brought to light issues with Boeing's documentation practices. Jennifer Homendy, chair of the NTSB, testified that Boeing had failed to provide necessary documentation for the investigation into the door panel blowout. Boeing admitted in a letter to Senator Maria Cantwell that it did not possess some of the requested documentation, suggesting that the required documents might not have been created when repairs were made to the damaged door panel. This raises concerns about the company's safety measures and documentation processes.