NTSB chair says Boeing has a ‘quality control problem’

The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Wednesday there is a “quality control problem” at Boeing, which has come under scrutiny in recent weeks after one of its jets suffered a midair blowout last month.

The NTSB released its preliminary report Tuesday into what may have caused a fuselage panel on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jet to blow off just minutes after taking off last month from Portland, Ore. The report found that four bolts meant to secure the fuselage panel — also called a door plug — appeared to be missing before the incident took place.

“I think there is a quality assurance problem, a quality control problem. And that’s exactly what we’re digging in on right now,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said on “CNN This Morning” on Wednesday when asked if there was a quality control issue at Boeing.

“We want to understand their quality management systems, their safety culture, their safety management systems throughout the company, to see where their deficiencies are to make sure this doesn’t reoccur. If you have situations or deficiencies in manufacturing and production, that needs to be taken seriously and corrected,” she continued.

Investigators said the bolts were likely missing before the incident, based on the lack of damage around the holes where the bolts should have been. The investigators had dissembled the fuselage panel in a laboratory for the investigation after the panel fell 16,000 feet from the Alaska Airlines flight.

Homendy said the aircraft never should have been delivered without the bolts and called for systemic changes in safety measures for aircraft.

“There’s no way that this plane should have been delivered with four safety critical bolts missing. There’s a problem in the process; we are digging in. We’re not just digging into what’s going on at Boeing, but we’re also digging into [Federal Aviation Administration] oversight of Boeing as well,” she said.

Boeing CEO and President Dave Calhoun said in a Tuesday statement that the company “is accountable for what happened.”

The midair accident prompted the grounding of all U.S.-based 737 Max 9 jets, which are used by Alaska Airlines and United Airlines. Those jets have since returned to the skies after being inspected by the airlines according to requirements set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Just days before the NTSB released its preliminary report, Boeing had informed its employees that an issue with the Boeing 737 fuselages may delay the near-term deliveries of about 50 aircraft after an employee discovered that some holes may not have been drilled exactly to the company’s requirements.

Homendy said she would have no issues flying on a 737 Max 9 now that the planes have been inspected for safety concerns.

“Absolutely. They have been inspected thoroughly, I believe by FAA along with United and Alaska,” she said when asked if she would fly on them. “I will say, working with Alaska on this investigation has been very cooperative. They have taken this very seriously, had serious safety concerns. So I would have no problem tomorrow taking a flight on a Max 9.”

The NTSB’s investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The Hill has reached out to Boeing for comment.