Share this @internewscast.com

Boeing has refused to tell investigators who worked on the door plug that later blew off a jetliner during flight in January, the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday.

The company also hasn’t provided documentation about a repair job that included removing and reinstalling the panel on the Boeing 737 Max 9 — or even whether Boeing kept records — Jennifer Homendy told a Senate committee.

“It’s absurd that two months later we don’t have that,” Homendy said. “Without that information, that raises concerns about quality assurance, quality management, safety management systems” at Boeing.

Lawmakers seemed stunned.

“That is utterly unacceptable,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said she will ask Boeing to cooperate with the NTSB. Cantwell, who represents the state where Max jetliners are assembled, noted that the company is a leading U.S. exporter and major defense contractor.

“We need to get this right,” she said. “We need to help with the investigation so we can find out what in our system needs to be improved.”

Boeing has been under increasing scrutiny since the Jan. 5 incident in which a panel that plugged a space left for an extra emergency door blew off an Alaska Airlines Max 9. Pilots were able to land safely, and there were no injuries.

In a preliminary report last month, the NTSB said four bolts that help keep the door plug in place were missing after the panel was removed so workers could repair nearby damaged rivets last September. The rivet repairs were done by contractors working for Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, but the NTSB still does not know who removed and replaced the door panel, Homendy said Wednesday.

Homendy said Boeing has a 25-member team led by a manager, but Boeing has declined repeated requests for their names so they can be interviewed by investigators. The manager of the team is on medical leave and unavailable, and security-camera footage that might have shown who removed the panel was erased and recorded over 30 days later, she said.

The Federal Aviation Administration recently gave Boeing 90 days to say how it will respond to quality-control issues raised by the agency and a panel of industry and government experts. The panel found problems in Boeing’s safety culture despite improvements made after two Max 8 jets crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Drug kingpin El Chapo's son enters plea in multibillion-dollar drug trafficking case

El Chapo’s Son Pleads in Major Multibillion-Dollar Drug Trafficking Case: Key Developments Unfold

Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of infamous cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo”…
At Evanston-Skokie District 65 school board meeting, members deadlock again on potential District 65 school closings

Evanston-Skokie District 65 Board Faces Stalemate Over Proposed School Closures

In Evanston-Skokie District 65, plans to close certain schools are expected to…
Did anyone win the $490M Powerball jackpot? Winning numbers for Monday, Nov. 10

Has Monday’s $740 Million Powerball Jackpot Found a Winner?

The anticipation continues to build as the Powerball jackpot swells to an…
Hegseth Replaces Two More Senior Pentagon Generals As He Continues to Reshape the Military Hierarchy

Pete Hegseth’s Drug Boat Strike Story Faces New Scrutiny: Unraveling the Truth Behind the Headlines

Recently, there’s been a growing discussion about an alleged “second strike” on…
gif of holiday ad promoting CBP Home App

Unveiling DHS’s Retro 90s ‘Cyber Monday’ Incentive: Earn $1,000 for Voluntary Self-Deportation

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a unique holiday initiative,…
She was helping the homeless on Thanksgiving. Then her car was stolen.

Good Samaritan’s Car Stolen While Assisting the Homeless on Thanksgiving

As the woman prepared to head to her own Thanksgiving celebration, she…
Florida officer shot in face during service call tied to mental health dispute; suspect killed

Florida Officer Injured in Face During Mental Health Call; Suspect Fatally Shot

A Port St. Lucie police officer sustained a facial gunshot wound while…
Teacher pleads guilty to sexually abusing 15-year-old student weeks after giving birth: report

Educator Admits to Abusing Teenage Student Shortly After Childbirth: Report

An Australian high school teacher has admitted guilt in a New South…
White House Releases ‘Perfect’ Trump MRI Results, Shaming Democrats Who Spread Health Trouble Rumors

White House Debunks Health Rumors: Trump’s ‘Perfect’ MRI Results Contradict Democratic Claims

The White House has disclosed the findings of President Donald Trump’s recent…
Republican Illinois governor candidate Darren Bailey speaks out after Montana helicopter crash kills family members

Illinois Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Darren Bailey Addresses Montana Helicopter Crash Tragedy Involving Family Members

In an exclusive interview with ABC7 Chicago, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Darren Bailey…
Exclusive | New York socialite snags Manalapan, Florida, mansion for $21 million

Inside the $21 Million Manalapan Mansion Sale: New York Socialite’s Luxurious Florida Escape

In an exclusive reveal by Gimme Shelter, it has been disclosed that…
'A gentle soul': Family mourns 14-year-old killed in California birthday party mass shooting

Heartbreaking Loss: Family Honors Teen Killed in California Birthday Party Tragedy

A joyful birthday celebration turned tragic when a shooting at a toddler’s…