David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Boeing said on Friday it believed necessary documents detailing the removal of a key part during production of the 737 MAX 9 plane that failed during an air emergency had never been created. according to the letter seen by Reuters.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said last month that a door plug that flew off an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 during a Jan. 5 flight was missing four key bolts.
Boeing (NYSE:) Executive Vice President Ziad Ocakli told U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell in a letter: “We have carefully reviewed and found no such documentation” and that the aircraft maker’s working hypothesis was that “documents required for our processes were not available.” created when the door plug was opened.”
NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy on Wednesday criticized what she called Boeing’s lack of cooperation and failure to disclose some documents, including the opening and closing of a door plug and the names of 25 door crew members at Boeing’s 737 plant in Renton, State. Washington. .
“It’s absurd that two months later we don’t have it,” Homendy said at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing.
Following Homendy’s comments, Boeing provided 25 names, the company and the NTSB said, and Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun spoke with Homendy.
Following the incident, which resulted in no injuries, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded the MAX 9 for several weeks in January, prohibited Boeing from increasing the MAX’s production rate and ordered Boeing to develop a comprehensive plan to address “systemic quality control issues.” “within 90 days.
Boeing’s letter said, “Our records indicate that this list was first requested from us on Saturday, March 2, via email, and the request was discussed by Boeing and the NTSB on Monday.”
Homendy said Wednesday that the NTSB has been trying for two months to identify the specific production shift and employees of the MAX 9, adding that the board told key lawmakers of its request for the names of the employees during a Feb. 6 meeting.
“The NTSB needs to interview employees,” she said. “The only way to ensure safety is to find out what happened: what was done, what was not done.”
NTSB investigators have been at the Boeing 737 plant since Sunday conducting interviews.
Before Wednesday’s hearing, “Boeing was not aware of any complaints or concerns about lack of cooperation,” Ocakli wrote, adding that Boeing “is committed to continuing to cooperate fully and transparently with the NTSB investigation” and has provided “extensive records and documents.”
He wrote that Boeing previously provided the names of dozens of employees who were on or around the plane “during key periods, such as shifts when the door seal was opened and closed, including members of the door crew.”
Omendi plans to send his own letter to the Senate detailing the NTSB’s views on cooperation with Boeing. An NTSB spokeswoman did not immediately comment Friday but said it stands by its testimony.