Boeing apologises after NTSB restricts its participation in Alaska Air investigation

BTN News
Saturday, 29 June 2024

US plane maker Boeing has been sanctioned by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for disclosing non-public details of the agency's investigation into the January 5 incident when an Alaska Airlines flight carrying 174 passengers and six crew lost a door panel (aka a 'plug'), minutes after the flight took off from Portland, Oregon. 


A letter sent to Boeing ceo Dave Calhoun (from Timothy LeBaron, director of the NTSB Office of Aviation Safety) says Boeing's senior vice president of quality Elizabeth Lund disclosed "non-public investigative information and made unsubstantiated speculations about possible causes" of the door loss.
Separately, the NTSB said 'both actions' were prohibited by an agreement that gave Boeing 'party status to the investigation' ... and "few entities know the rules better than Boeing". 

LeBaron said that "given Boeing's unauthorised release of investigative information", the NTSB was "imposing restrictions on Boeing's participation in the investigation." 

In his letter to Calhoun, LeBaron said that "only appropriate NTBS personnel are authorised to publicly disclose investigative information and, even then, the disclosure is limited to factual information verified during the course of the investigation."

As a result, Boeing will no longer have access to NTSB investigative information and "unlike the other parties in the hearing, Boeing will not be allowed to ask questions of other participants". 

Boeing responded: "We deeply regret that some of our comments, intended to make clear our responsibility in the accident and explain the actions we are taking, overstepped the NTSB’s role as the source of investigative information. We apologise to the NTSB and stand ready to answer any questions as the agency continues its investigation."

Lund had said that the fuselage arrived with "five non-conforming rivets" from its supplier. She had added that the mid-exit door 'plug' needed to be opened in order to get access to the rivets for replacement.

"That plug was opened without the correct paperwork," Lund had said. "You guys have read about it, it was referenced in the NTSB report which is out there."

She had added that a "lack of compliance to our processes by the correct documentation, using the correct documentation," had contributed to a potential accident.

Fortunately, the plane had soon landed - and without fatalities

Boeing apologises after NTSB restricts its participation in Alaska Air investigation

BTN News
Saturday, 29 June 2024

US plane maker Boeing has been sanctioned by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for disclosing non-public details of the agency's investigation into the January 5 incident when an Alaska Airlines flight carrying 174 passengers and six crew lost a door panel (aka a 'plug'), minutes after the flight took off from Portland, Oregon. 


A letter sent to Boeing ceo Dave Calhoun (from Timothy LeBaron, director of the NTSB Office of Aviation Safety) says Boeing's senior vice president of quality Elizabeth Lund disclosed "non-public investigative information and made unsubstantiated speculations about possible causes" of the door loss.
Separately, the NTSB said 'both actions' were prohibited by an agreement that gave Boeing 'party status to the investigation' ... and "few entities know the rules better than Boeing". 

LeBaron said that "given Boeing's unauthorised release of investigative information", the NTSB was "imposing restrictions on Boeing's participation in the investigation." 

In his letter to Calhoun, LeBaron said that "only appropriate NTBS personnel are authorised to publicly disclose investigative information and, even then, the disclosure is limited to factual information verified during the course of the investigation."

As a result, Boeing will no longer have access to NTSB investigative information and "unlike the other parties in the hearing, Boeing will not be allowed to ask questions of other participants". 

Boeing responded: "We deeply regret that some of our comments, intended to make clear our responsibility in the accident and explain the actions we are taking, overstepped the NTSB’s role as the source of investigative information. We apologise to the NTSB and stand ready to answer any questions as the agency continues its investigation."

Lund had said that the fuselage arrived with "five non-conforming rivets" from its supplier. She had added that the mid-exit door 'plug' needed to be opened in order to get access to the rivets for replacement.

"That plug was opened without the correct paperwork," Lund had said. "You guys have read about it, it was referenced in the NTSB report which is out there."

She had added that a "lack of compliance to our processes by the correct documentation, using the correct documentation," had contributed to a potential accident.

Fortunately, the plane had soon landed - and without fatalities