The Federal Aviation Administration will increase its oversight of Boeing production and manufacturing, the agency said Friday, one day after announcing it had opened an investigation.
The FAA will audit Boeing’s 737-9 MAX production line and its suppliers to evaluate Boeing’s compliance with its approved quality procedures, a news release states.
The results of the initial audit will determine whether additional audits are needed, the agency said.
“It is time to re-examine the delegation of authority and assess any associated safety risks,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a statement.
“The grounding of the 737-9 and the multiple production-related issues identified in recent years require us to look at every option to reduce risk,” Whitaker said. “The FAA is exploring the use of an independent third party to oversee Boeing’s inspections and its quality system.”
The move comes one week after an Alaska Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing when a door plug fell off the fuselage midair.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
