The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has sanctioned Boeing, criticizing the company for leaking sensitive details from the ongoing investigation into a January incident involving a 737 MAX 9 door plug blowout.
This move comes just weeks after Boeing faced scrutiny for its interactions with the FAA prior to the 737 MAX fatalities.
According to the NTSB, Boeing violated its agreement as a party to the investigation by sharing confidential information with the media during a press briefing on June 25th. This agreement prohibits disclosing details not yet verified by the NTSB and offering opinions on potential causes.
Sanctions Imposed
For this breach of trust, the NTSB has imposed several sanctions on Boeing. The company will no longer receive updates on the investigation’s progress, even though it retains NTSB’s official party status.
Additionally, Boeing is required to appear at a hearing on August 6th and 7th in Washington D.C. However, unlike other participants, they will be barred from asking questions.
The NTSB emphasized their primary objective of determining the root cause of the incident, not assigning blame to any individual. This stands in contrast to Boeing’s alleged portrayal of the investigation during their media briefing, which the NTSB claims focused on finding a single culprit.
This highlights the ongoing challenges surrounding the B737 MAX program and raises questions about Boeing’s commitment to transparency during safety investigations. The NTSB’s decision to collaborate with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Fraud Division further underscores the seriousness of the situation.