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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has said there is a “quality control problem” within Boeing following a recent incident where a fuselage panel detached from an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jet shortly after takeoff.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy expressed concerns on CNN regarding Boeing’s quality assurance processes, emphasizing the importance of investigating the company’s safety and quality management systems to prevent future occurrences. The preliminary report by the NTSB suggests that missing bolts, essential for securing the fuselage panel, were a significant factor in the incident.

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Investigators have determined that the absence of damage around the bolt holes indicates the bolts were missing before the flight, a finding that came to light during a detailed examination of the disassembled fuselage panel. Homendy criticized the delivery of the aircraft under these conditions and stressed the need for a systemic overhaul of safety protocols. The incident has sparked a broader inquiry into the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) oversight of Boeing’s manufacturing and production processes.

In response to the incident, Boeing’s CEO, Dave Calhoun, acknowledged the company’s responsibility for the oversight, and immediate action was taken to ground all U.S.-based 737 Max 9 jets for inspection. These jets, operated by Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, have since resumed service after meeting FAA inspection requirements. The discovery of potential fuselage issues has also led Boeing to anticipate delays in the delivery of approximately 50 aircraft.

Despite the severe nature of these findings, Homendy expressed confidence in the safety of the 737 Max 9 aircraft post-inspection, commending the cooperative efforts of Alaska Airlines in addressing the safety concerns.

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