FAA Probe of Boeing to Include Spirit AeroSystems

By Ben Glickman

Airline regulators will include subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems in their investigation of Boeing's manufacturing practices following the grounding of 737 MAX 9 jets.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that it was bolstering its oversight of Boeing and was examining "potential system change."

The FAA's investigation into Boeing comes after a panel blew off a plane mid-flight earlier this month.

The FAA said it had completed the first 40 inspections of the 171 grounded planes. Regulators said on Friday that they would require an inspection and maintenance process before returning any 737 MAX 9 planes to the air.

The FAA said it will thoroughly review data from the first 40 inspections.

Boeing executives have previously said that the door plugs, one of which blew out, had been inspected on undelivered planes at its assembly plant and at a factory run by supplier Spirit AeroSystems.

Write to Ben Glickman at ben.glickman@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 17, 2024 11:33 ET (16:33 GMT)

Spirit Aerosystems (NYSE:SPR)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024