The FAA announced Friday it wants to throw the book at Boeing with a total of $3.1 million in fines for “hundreds of quality system violations” in the year leading up to the rapid decompression of a MAX 9 over Oregon in 2024. That’s the most the FAA could ask the courts to levy for the many serious violations it found at Boeing’s Renton plant in Washington State and the Spirit AeroSystems plant in Wichita, Kansas, where MAX fuselages are built under contract. The door blew out because four bolts needed to secure it to the hull were not re-installed after the door plug was removed to fix some rivets as it went through final assembly in Renton. The full FAA statement, which amounts to its last words on the debacle, are copied below for the record:
“The Federal Aviation Administration issued proposed fines totaling $3,139,319 against The Boeing Company for safety violations that occurred from September 2023 through February 2024. These include actions related to the January 5, 2024, door plug blowout, and interference with safety officials’ independence. The FAA utilized its maximum statutory civil penalty authority consistent with law.
“The FAA identified hundreds of quality system violations at Boeing’s 737 factory in Renton, Washington, and Boeing subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems’ 737 factory in Wichita, Kansas. Additionally, Boeing presented two unairworthy aircraft to the FAA for airworthiness certificates and failed to follow its quality system.
“Furthermore, the FAA found that a non-ODA Boeing employee pressured a Boeing ODA unit member to sign off on a Boeing 737-MAX airplane so Boeing could meet its delivery schedule, even though the ODA member determined the aircraft did not comply with applicable standards.
“Boeing has 30 days after receiving the FAA’s penalty letters to respond to the agency.”
In this age of outrageous costs and liability issues this seems like a bargain basement deal to put all the aforementioned items to rest. If I were a Boeing exec I’d take this deal and run with it.
This fine is about 6 weeks worth of compensation for Boeing’s CEO. It’s not the FAA’s fault it’s so little. The fault lies with Congress. Maximum fines in law for major corporate violators across the board are too low to act as punishment or deterrence.
The amount sounds like a joke.
I bet this is less than Boeing Executives are collectively paid per day. The money can surely be recouped during the next round of negotiations with these pesky employees.
I wonder if Boeing have fines budgeted for the year in comparison for safety inspection hours. I am sure the safety inspection costs far exceed the fine. So this is not really a punishment.
I’m glad I’m not the guy who has to write Boeing’s response.
Just respond with a check.
$3.1 million is Boeings pocket change.