FAA Orders Another Boeing Investigation

12.07.2024 - 21:13 / travelpulse.com / North America / Rich Thomaselli

It seems like we write these words weekly, but the Boeing Company is under even more scrutiny.

The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered an investigation of nearly 3,000 Boeing 737 MAX and Next-Generation (NG) planes due to potential failures of passenger oxygen masks during emergencies. The order was issued on Monday.

Reports have surfaced of some oxygen generators shifting out of place on certain planes, raising concerns about potential oxygen deprivation for passengers during an emergency. Two weeks ago, Boeing issued a bulletin to pilots warning of a possible depressurization issue.

It is estimated that 2,600 Boeing planes registered to fly in the United States will need to be addressed. This will likely add to delays to a company already besieged by delay problems.

The Airworthiness Directive issued to airlines is fairly common in the aviation industry, but it is notable in this instance because Boeing has been under so much scrutiny since a January 5 incident in which a door panel blew off an Alaska Airlines plane. 

The company is under investigation by several government agencies.

The FAA's announcement has further impacted Boeing's stock, causing a slip of almost one percent. This adds to the company's financial woes, with Boeing shares down almost 30 percent for the year.

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