FAA Increases Oversight of Boeing, Considers Third-Party Inspections

Action follows a mishap with a 737 Max 9, grounding all Max 9s equipped with door plugs and forcing airlines to cut flights.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will increase oversight of Boeing and audit production of the 737 Max 9 following a mishap where a panel blew off an Alaska Airlines jet in midflight.
The FAA is reconsidering the industry's longstanding reliance on aircraft manufacturing employees to perform some safety analysis of planes, a practice criticized after two deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019 involving 737 Max 8.
FAA's new administrator, Mike Whitaker, suggested the use of an independent third party to oversee Boeing's inspections and its quality system.
The FAA will also step up its oversight of Spirit AeroSystems, which supplies Boeing with fuselages for the 737 Max.
Following the incident, all Max 9s equipped with the door plugs were grounded, forcing Alaska and United Airlines to cut flights.