Aviation

US regulator launches probe into Boeing aircraft citing raft of quality concerns

FAA said that Boeing’s ‘manufacturing practices must comply with the high safety standards they’re legally accountable to meet’

In a letter to Boeing laying out its decision, the US aviation watchdog said “Boeing may have failed to ensure its completed products conformed to its approved design and were in a condition for safe operation in accordance with quality system inspection and test procedures.” Picture: Getty

US aviation regulators have opened a formal investigation of Boeing following last week’s accident on one of its passenger jets, escalating a crisis of confidence unfolding at the US planemaker.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced the decision Thursday, saying the company’s “manufacturing practices need to comply with the high safety standards they’re legally accountable to meet.” The investigation is a result of the mid-air blowout of a so-called door plug on a 737 Max 9 ...