FAA will audit Boeing production after midair blowout

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is increasing oversight of Boeing, including auditing its production, in the wake of a midair blowout last week on an Alaska Airlines flight, the agency agency announced Friday.

On a Jan. 5 flight from Portland, Ore., to Ontario, Calif., an emergency exit door blew off the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft.

In its announcement, the FAA said it is conducting “an audit involving the Boeing 737-9 MAX production line and its suppliers to evaluate Boeing’s compliance with its approved quality procedures.” The results will guide further action, including potentially more audits.

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said 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.”

“The FAA is exploring the use of an independent third party to oversee Boeing’s inspections and its quality system,” Whitaker said in the release.

On Thursday, the FAA began an investigation into whether Boeing failed to ensure its planes complied with the agency’s safety regulations.

“This incident should have never happened and it cannot happen again. FAA formally notified Boeing that it is conducting an investigation to determine if Boeing failed to ensure completed products conformed to its approved design and were in a condition for safe operation in compliance with FAA regulations,” the agency said in a statement.

Dave Calhoun, Boeing’s CEO, said his company will “cooperate fully and transparently” with the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board investigations.

Calhoun has called the blowout incident a “mistake” that “can never happen again.”

“We’re going to approach this, No. 1, acknowledging our mistake with 100 percent and complete transparency every step of the way,” Calhoun said, addressing his employees Tuesday.

An estimated 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft models operated by U.S. airlines or in U.S. territory were grounded by the FAA on Jan. 6. The agency said the “safety of the flying public, not speed,” will determine when the Boeing 737 Max 9 will go back into service.

Updated at 9:56 a.m. ET