Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $3.14 million civil penalty against Boeing for quality system violations in the production of the 737. The decision follows inspections launched after the January 2024 incident in which a door plug detached mid-flight on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 aircraft.
FAA inspectors identified “hundreds” of violations at Boeing’s Renton facility and at supplier Spirit AeroSystems’ Wichita plant. Among them were serious non-compliances, including aircraft being presented for certification before they were ready.
In addition, a concerning case involving the FAA’s Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) system—through which certain oversight powers are delegated to manufacturers—came to light. A Boeing employee was found to have pressured an ODA representative to approve delivery of an aircraft that did not meet standards. The incident is seen as a critical problem undermining the independence of the system.
Meanwhile, production pressure on Boeing continues. The FAA has not yet authorized an increase beyond the current monthly cap of 38 737 MAX aircraft. The company had planned to raise capacity first to 42 and then to 47 aircraft, but those plans remain on hold for now.
