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Memorial Day weekend, the traditional launching pad of the summer travel season, is shaping up to set a scorching pace. United is expecting the biggest Memorial Day and summer travel season in the airline’s 98-year history, according to Andrew Nocella, United’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer. Air traffic controller shortageThe air traffic control tower at Los Angeles International Airport is a busy place. The United States is still short thousands of air traffic control personnel. Markus Mainka/imageBROKER/ShutterstockDespite a surge in hiring last year, air traffic control stations nationwide are still about 3,000 controllers short, according to new FAA numbers.

Persons: it’s, Andrew Nocella, Markus Mainka, Scott Keyes, ”, ” Keyes, Tayfun, Bob Thomas, haven’t, Elijah Nouvelage, Keyes, “, Antonio Masiello, he’s, Angela Fritz Organizations: CNN, Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, TSA, American Airlines and United Airlines, Airlines for America, Airlines, America, Air, Los Angeles International, FAA, CNN Travel, San Francisco International, Anadolu Agency, Embry ‑ Riddle Aeronautical University, Aircraft, Travelers, Hartsfield, Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Getty Locations: United States, New York City, Florida, New York, Miami, Chicago, Atlantic, AFP, Rome, Europe, Mexico, Australia, Paris, Iceland, Dublin, CNN’s

☆ Airlines sue DOT over new rules requiring disclosure of fees
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Pete Muntean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Major airlines have filed a lawsuit against the federal government over new rules that would require carriers to disclose all airline fees — including those for checked and carry-on bags as well as change and cancelation fees — up front. The suit was filed Friday in the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court by carriers Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, and United along with industry lobby Airlines For America. It alleges the Department of Transportation exceeded its authority in announcing the new rule, calling it an “arbitrary, capricious” change. “The ancillary fee rule by the Department of Transportation will greatly confuse consumers who will be inundated with information that will only serve to complicate the buying process,” lobby Airlines For America said in a statement. “DOT’s attempt to regulate private business operations in a thriving marketplace is beyond its authority.”The A4A statement adds: “The DOT ancillary rule is a bad solution in search of a problem.”DOT did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, “ Organizations: CNN, Fifth, JetBlue, Airlines, America, Department of Transportation, Transportation, Department Locations: U.S, Alaska, American, Delta, United

☆ Boeing investigation: Labor complaint reveals allegations of company’s retaliation against two workers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Ross Levitt | Pete Muntean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The union says it is trying to appeal a decision not to change the performance evaluation of one of the workers. Boeing says the investigation was part of a confidential process and that the report could only be shared with the FAA. The complaint filed on behalf of the two engineers involves a different issue— the onboard computer networks on the planes. The union says Boeing managers “strongly objected” to rerunning calculations regarding the systems based on new assumptions, citing cost and production delays, but that Boeing ultimately agreed. Boeing re-did the required analysis,” the press release says.

Persons: “, SPEEA, ”, Sam Salehpour, Rich Plunkett Organizations: CNN, Boeing, Federal Aviation Administration, Society of Professional Engineering Employees, Aerospace, National Labor Relations, Boeing’s, FAA, ” Boeing, Strategic

☆ Pilot union alleges ‘significant spike’ in safety issues on American Airlines flights
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Pete Muntean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The union representing pilots at American Airlines says it is seeing a “significant spike” in safety issues on flights. There were roughly a dozen incidents on United Airlines flights last month alone, according to a CNN analysis, which prompted CEO Scott Kirby to send a safety message to customers. “While United Airlines is currently under public and government scrutiny, it could just as easily be American Airlines,” said the message from the union’s safety committee, urging members to report problems and to resist being rushed or intimidated. “As the last link in the safety chain, our passengers and crew depend on us to be the strongest link in that chain,” the message said. American Airlines insisted in a statement that safety is its top priority, saying that “our robust safety program is guided by our industry-leading safety management system.”“It includes a multitude of collaborative programs — and regular touchpoints — with the FAA and all our unions, including APA, to further bolster our strong safety record and enhance our ever-evolving safety culture,” the company added.

Persons: Scott Kirby, ” Organizations: CNN, American Airlines, Allied Pilots Association, Alaska Airlines Boeing, United Airlines, FAA, APA

☆ Geopolitical strife is roiling Wall Street. Here’s what investors are watching
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Those what-ifs could further roil gas and oil prices. But if there’s further conflict, he said, “you’d see a much higher premium for oil prices. If there’s a de-escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran, they said, oil prices should come down over the next few weeks. But if there’s an escalation in conflict, they expect that oil prices could jump to more than $100 per barrel, they wrote in a note Monday. Retail sales rose 0.7% in March from the prior month, a slower pace than February’s upwardly revised 0.9% gain, the Commerce Department reported Monday.

Persons: New York CNN —, JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, ” Dimon, Jerome Powell, We’ll, Christine Lagarde, Andrew Bailey, Dave Sekera, Israel doesn’t, ”, “, Moody’s, there’s, Chris Isidore, Pete Muntean, Sam Salehpour, Read, Bryan Mena, Claire Tassin Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Dow, JPMorgan, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Bank, Bank of Canada, Seven, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Morningstar, Nvidia, AMD, Wall Street Journal, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Boeing, Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Airlines, Commerce Department, Morning, Amazon Locations: New York, Russia, Ukraine, China, United States, Washington ,, Iran, Israel, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

☆ Boeing defends its planes’ safety ahead of whistleblower hearing
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Chris Isidore | Pete Muntean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Boeing on Monday scrambled to address safety and quality concerns about its planes ahead of a whistleblower hearing in the Senate on Wednesday. Salehpour is set to be the key witness at a Wednesday hearing of the Senate permanent subcommittee on investigations. That has sparked investigations and allegations that some Boeing employees felt reluctant to raise questions about the safety of the planes they are building or inspecting for fear of retaliation. The average 787 does 600 flights a year, according to Chisholm, and the tests Boeing put the planes through simulated 165,000 flights. Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration have admitted that some of the planes did have problems with the gaps between parts of the fuselages that were wider than the standards set by Boeing.

Persons: Sam Salehpour, Salehpour, —, “ We’re, ”, Lisa Fahl, Steve Chisholm, Chisholm, we’re, Fahl Organizations: New, New York CNN, Boeing, Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Airlines, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Locations: New York, Alaska

☆ Southwest Boeing 737-800 flight from Denver loses engine cover, FAA investigating
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Pete Muntean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —A Houston-bound Boeing 737-800 plane operated by Southwest Airlines returned safely to Denver International Airport on Sunday after an engine cover fell off and struck the wing flap, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. “We apologize for the inconvenience of their delay but place our highest priority on ultimate Safety for our Customers and Employees,” the statement said. Southwest said its maintenance teams would review the aircraft, which departed at 7:49 a.m. local time and returned at 8:15 a.m. The plane was deemed airworthy in May 2015, per FAA records. Boeing declined to comment and referred CNN to Southwest for information about plane and fleet operations.

Organizations: New, New York CNN, Boeing, Southwest Airlines, Denver International Airport, Federal Aviation Administration, CNN, Southwest, Employees Locations: New York, Houston, Southwest

☆ United Airlines asks pilots to take voluntary unpaid leave because of Boeing delivery delay
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —United Airlines is asking its pilots to take voluntary unpaid leave in May because of delays in Boeing deliveries, according to a memo sent by the union representing pilots. Because of the delivery delay, “our forecasted block hours for 2024 have been reduced and we are offering our pilots voluntary programs for the month of May to reduce excess staffing,” United Airlines said in a statement Monday. The Federal Aviation Administration is taking a closer look at United after a series of almost a dozen incidents at the airline, United said in a March memo. On March 15, a United Boeing 737-800 landed in Medford, Oregon, missing an external panel, though no passengers were injured. Boeing has been in the spotlight since the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 incident.

Persons: United, Scott Kirby, ” Kirby, Chris Isidore, Pete Muntean, Gregory Wallace Organizations: New, New York CNN — United Airlines, Boeing, ” United Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, United, Airbus, Alaska Air, Max, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Boeing, Alaska Airlines Boeing Locations: New York, Covid, Alaska, Medford , Oregon, United

☆ Baltimore key bridge collapse: Recovery efforts continue for 6 presumed dead after Baltimore bridge collapse as investigation gets underway
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Elizabeth Wolfe | Yahya Abou-Ghazala | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Recovery efforts are now underway for the missing people, who are presumed dead. People from El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico among the missing: Miguel Luna, an immigrant from El Salvador, has been identified as one of the missing, according to the nonprofit Miguel Luna, an immigrant from El Salvador, has been identified as one of the missing, according to the nonprofit CASA . Ship blacked out before crash: Just minutes before impact, there was a “total blackout” of engine and electrical power on the ship, according to Clay Diamond, executive director of the American Pilots Association. Eight construction workers were believed to be mending potholes on the bridge when it fell, according to officials. A specialized team will also determine who was controlling the vessel and who was on the ship’s bridge at the time of the crash, she said.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, James Wallace, Wes Moore, “ We’re, Jennifer Homendy, Richard Worley, Miguel Luna, Petén, Clay Diamond, Diamond, “ It’s, ”, Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden, US Sen, Chris Van Hollen, Buttigieg, Luna, DALI, “, ” Moore, Dali, Tasos Katopodis, Moore, CNN’s Melissa Alonso, Flora Charner, Sarah Engel, Jack Forrest, Allison Gordon, Elise Hammond, Jennifer Henderson, Betsy Klein, Jamiel Lynch, Sean Lyngaas, Mary Kay Mallonee, Lauren Mascarenhas, Pete Muntean, Tori B, Powell, Rachel Ramirez, Amy Simonson, Aditi Sangal, Michael Williams Organizations: CNN, US Coast Guard, Baltimore City Fire, Divers, Maryland Gov, Guard, Transportation Safety, National Transportation Safety, Baltimore Police, CASA, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexican Embassy, American Pilots Association, Reconstruction, Vital, Transportation, El, Maritime, Port Authority of, Infrastructure Security Agency, Coast Guard, for Disease Control, Gov, Association of Maryland Pilots, ”, NTSB Locations: Baltimore, ”, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, San Luis, Camotán, Washington, US, Patapsco, El Salvadoran, Maryland, Port Authority of Singapore

☆ FAA says future United projects ‘may be delayed’ due to increased oversight
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Samantha Delouya | Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

“Due to recent safety events, the FAA is increasing oversight of United Airlines to ensure that it is complying with safety regulations; identifying hazards and mitigating risk; and effectively managing safety,” an FAA spokesperson said in a statement. The civil aviation authority’s stepped up oversight comes after a United Boeing 737-800 landed in Medford, Oregon, missing an external panel on March 15. In just the last month, another United Boeing plane spewed flames from an engine after taking off, one slid off the runway, one lost a wheel during takeoff and another trailed hydraulic fluid. The FAA did not specify what future projects may be delayed by its evaluation, but on Saturday, Bloomberg reported the agency is considering preventing United Airlines from adding new routes, curbing the airline’s growth. Last week, a LATAM Airlines Boeing plane flying from Sydney, Australia, to Auckland, New Zealand, suddenly plunged in midair, injuring some passengers as they were thrown to the cabin’s ceiling.

Persons: authority’s, ” United, ”, CNN’s Gregory Wallace, Chris Isidore, Pete Muntean Organizations: CNN, Federal Aviation Administration, United Airlines, FAA, United Boeing, Boeing, Bloomberg, United, ”, Alaska Airlines Boeing, Max, LATAM Airlines Boeing Locations: Medford , Oregon, United, Sydney, Australia, Auckland , New Zealand

☆ FAA to take a closer look at United after a series of incidents
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Gregory Wallace | Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Federal Aviation Administration will take a closer look at safety at United Airlines after a string of nearly a dozen incidents this month, the airline said in a memo Friday. While no passengers were injured, the incident was just one in a line of recent mishaps on United flights – all involving Boeing jets. In just the last month, another United Boeing plane spewed flames from an engine after taking off, one slid off the runway, one lost a wheel during takeoff, and yet another trailed hydraulic fluid. In a statement, the FAA said its “safety assurance system routinely monitors all aspects of an airline’s operation. Still, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has said he would look into the possibility of buying more jets from Airbus, Boeing’s European competitor.

Persons: ” United, Scott Kirby, Pete Muntean, Chris Isidore Organizations: CNN, Federal Aviation Administration, United Airlines, FAA, ”, United Boeing, Boeing, Alaska Airlines Boeing, Max, LATAM Airlines, National Transportation, Safety, Alaska Air, Airbus, Boeing’s Locations: Medford , Oregon, United, Sydney, Australia, Auckland , New Zealand

☆ United CEO tries to reassure customers following multiple safety incidents
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Pete Muntean | Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

On Friday in a United Boeing 737-800 landed in Medford, Oregon, with a panel from the underside of the fuselage missing. Earlier this month, United suffered a series of four incidents, all involving Boeing jets . A United Boeing 737-900ER spewed flames from an engine after takeoff from Fort Meyers, Florida, a United Boeing 777 lost a wheel during takeoff from San Francisco, a United Boeing 737 Max slid off a runway in Houston, and a United Boeing 777 trailed hydraulic fluid leaving Sydney. The age of the aircraft in the United incidents suggest that the cause could lie with United personnel, rather than Boeing’s well documented quality issues. And its fleet of 737 Max 9 jets were grounded for three weeks in January following the incident at Alaska Air.

Persons: Scott Kirby, Max, “, ” Kirby, Kirby Organizations: Washington DC CNN — United Airlines, Boeing, ”, United Boeing, United, Alaska Airlines Boeing, Max, Latam Airlines, National Transportation Safety Board, Alaska Air, FAA, Airbus Locations: Medford , Oregon, Fort Meyers , Florida, San Francisco, Houston, Sydney, Australia, Auckland , New Zealand, Alaska

CNN —A United Airlines flight was forced to return to Sydney just two hours into its nearly 14-hour journey to San Francisco, in the carrier’s fifth flight incident in seven days. The Boeing 777-300 aircraft, carrying 183 passengers and crew, was redirected due to a “maintenance issue,” according to a statement from United Airlines. We provided accommodation overnight for passengers and rebooked them to San Francisco,” the airline added. The incident Monday on United flight 830 is the latest in a string of incidents to hit the US airline in recent days. US aircraft manufacturer Boeing is also under intense scrutiny following a series of quality and safety issues.

Organizations: CNN, United Airlines, Boeing, United, United Airlines aircraft, US Locations: Sydney, San Francisco, Mexico City, Los Angeles

☆ NTSB probing ‘stuck’ control incident on Boeing 737 Max
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Pete Muntean | Gregory Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Boeing is now party to a new federal investigation involving a 737 Max after United Airlines pilots reported that part of the flight controls became jammed as they landed in Newark last month. The investigation is the latest to involve a nearly-new Boeing 737 Max aircraft following the door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 on January 5. The NTSB says in this latest incident, the 737 Max 8 was delivered from Boeing to United Airlines in February 2023. We’ll continue to work with Boeing, the NTSB and the FAA on next steps for these aircraft,” United said in a statement. “We worked closely with United Airlines to diagnose the rudder response issue,” Boeing said in a statement.

Persons: “, ‘, Max, We’ll, ” United, ” Organizations: CNN, Boeing, Max, United Airlines, National Transportation Safety, NTSB, Alaska Airlines, Collins Aerospace, FAA, ”, ” Boeing, United Locations: Newark, United

☆ NTSB rips Boeing for failing to produce key door plug documents
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Gregory Wallace | Pete Muntean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Boeing has not turned over important records to investigators probing the door plug blowout on a 737 Max earlier this year, investigators say. She testified that because of Boeing’s actions, NTSB investigators do not know who on the Boeing assembly line removed and reinstalled the door plug that – months later while the plane was in service carrying passengers – blew out. Homendy said that Boeing has not fully cooperated with the NTSB Board's investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 door plug incident. The plane flew about 150 commercial flights before the door plug flew off the plane mid-flight on January 5, just over two months ago. NTSB investigators have made multiple visits to Boeing facilities and created a special team to handle requesting and processing documents from Boeing and its key contractor, Spirit AeroSystems.

Persons: Jennifer Homendy, Homendy, Kevin Dietsch, ” Homendy Organizations: CNN, Boeing, Transportation, Commerce, U.S . National Transportation Safety Board, Senate Commerce, Science, Russell Senate, NTSB, Alaska Airlines, Getty, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: Renton, Washington ,

“The FAA identified non-compliance issues in Boeing’s manufacturing process control, parts handling and storage, and product control,” the FAA said in a press release, but did not immediately provide further details. The FAA said the findings of both this audit and the separate report should be part of Boeing’s quality improvement plan. But in January Boeing CEO David Calhoun conceded Boeing needed to improve its quality controls. Without giving details, the FAA said it found multiple instances where both companies allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements. The agency is not the only government body looking into Boeing’s quality issues.

Persons: David Calhoun, ”, Calhoun, “, Mike Whitaker, Jennifer Homendy Organizations: Washington DC CNN, Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Airlines ’ Boeing, FAA, Boeing, Spirit, Max, National Transportation Safety, Alaska Air, NTSB, Justice Department, Alaska, Senate Locations: Renton , Washington

CNN —An Alaska Airlines passenger accused of attacking another traveler with pens wrapped in rubber bands in late January has been charged in federal court with assault with a dangerous weapon, according to court documents filed in the US District Court of Nevada on Wednesday. Lopez is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in Las Vegas on March 1, court documents said. The other passenger, who was seated across the aisle from Lopez, is a sworn law enforcement officer, court documents say. He also said that he felt the mafia had been chasing him for months, court documents said. One witness described Lopez as “fidgety” and said he was putting on and taking off gloves during the flight, court documents said.

Persons: Julio Alvarez Lopez, Lopez, “, ”, Aden Kahssai, “ We’re Organizations: CNN, An Alaska Airlines, Court, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, FBI, Alaska Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: Nevada, Seattle, Las Vegas, Lopez, Aden

CNN —United Airlines said it will resume flights from the United States to Israel beginning in March. United is the first major US airline carrier to resume flights to Israel following the October 7 Hamas terror attack and ensuing war in Gaza. United said there will be some connecting flights from New York and Newark on March 2 and March 4 and the goal is to begin daily non-stop flights on March 6. “United conducted a detailed safety analysis in making this decision, including close work with security experts and government officials in the United States and Israel. Neither of the other major US airlines that historically offered flights to Israel, Delta and American Airlines, have resumed service yet.

Organizations: CNN — United Airlines, United, “, Air Line Pilots Association, Association of, Washington Dulles, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Air, American Airlines Locations: United States, Israel, Gaza, United, New York, Newark, San Francisco, Washington, Chicago, Tel Aviv, Air France, Delta

☆ Boeing removes head of 737 Max program, Ed Clark, in wake of safety incidents
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Chris Isidore | Pete Muntean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Boeing removed executive Ed Clark, the head of its 737 Max passenger jet program, after a dramatic – and terrifying – midair blowout in January underscored ongoing problems with the jet. But he had previously held roles related to the 737 Max, including as chief engineer and chief 737 mechanic. It created a new executive position, Senior Vice President for BCA Quality, and named Elizabeth Lund to that position. Mike Fleming, who had previously been senior vice president of development and customer service, will assume the role Lund previously held. And Katie Ringgold, who had been vice president of 737 Max deliveries, will assume Clark’s former position overseeing the Max.

Persons: Ed Clark, Max, Dave Calhoun, ”, ” Clark, Elizabeth Lund, Lund, Mike Fleming, Katie Ringgold, Scott Kirby Organizations: New, New York CNN, Boeing, Max, Alaska Airlines, National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, BCA Quality, – United Airlines, Delta Air Lines Locations: New York, Southwest, Alaska

☆ We’re about to get investigators’ first report on the Alaska Airlines flight whose door plug blew off
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Pete Muntean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The National Transportation Safety Board will release its preliminary report Tuesday on last month’s blowout of a part of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 flight, NTSB spokesman Eric Weiss told CNN. On a January 5 Alaska flight 1282, the door plug blew off the side of the plane. The door plug fills a space in the fuselage that can otherwise contain an emergency exit door when plane seats are arranged a certain way. CNN has reported that NTSB investigators have been closely scrutinizing the door plug and whether crucial bolts that hold it in place were properly installed when the incident occurred. Meanwhile, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration will tell House lawmakers Tuesday that his agency is “closely scrutinizing” Boeing after last month’s door plug blowout.

Persons: Eric Weiss, Mike Whitaker, Whitaker, “, ” Whitaker, ” Organizations: CNN, Transportation, Alaska Airlines Boeing, Max, Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing, NTSB, FAA Locations: Alaska, United States, Renton , Washington

CNN —Boeing’s 737 Max 9 model returned to service Friday afternoon when Alaska Airlines flight 1146 departed Seattle at approximately 3:51pm local time (6:51pm ET) bound for San Diego. It is the first revenue flight for this model since the Federal Aviation Administration grounded the Boeing jets three weeks ago following a door plug blowout on Alaska Airlines flight 1282. Alaska Airlines COO Constance von Muehlen took the flight and sat in the seat next to the door plug, telling CNN she has full confidence in the aircraft. The first flight is one of three flights Alaska Airlines has scheduled on Max 9 jets for Friday. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said Thursday he is not concerned with passengers avoiding the Max 9.

Persons: CNN —, Max, Constance von Muehlen, Sarah Edgbert, it’s, ” Edgbert, “, ” Kent, Doug Bowman didn’t, —, Ben Minicucci Organizations: CNN, Alaska Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing, 9pm, United Airlines —, FAA, Max, . United Airlines Locations: Seattle, San Diego, Alaska

☆ Workers who build Boeing 737s will stop for a day to take lessons on quality control
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

On Thursday, factory workers will pause production for sessions on improving quality control. The FAA's boss said its investigation focuses on Boeing's quality control, not the door plug design. Nobody was seriously injured, but all 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 jets with a door plug have been grounded since. AdvertisementNEW: FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker tells me its probe of the Alaska Airlines blowout is focused on Boeing quality control issues. The 737 Max 9 door plug design is good "when properly executed," but "where we are looking now is quality assurance and quality control at Boeing."

Persons: —, Stan Deal, CNN's Pete Muntean, Mike Whitaker, Max, Pete Muntean, Ben Minicucci, United's Scott Kirby Organizations: Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Service, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Navy, Max, National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, United Airlines, NBC Locations: Renton , Washington

New York CNN —Boeing CEO David Calhoun’s Wednesday was decidedly a mixed bag: The Federal Aviation Administration finally approved a set of inspection criteria for the 171 grounded 737 Max 9 planes that, if followed, could return the aircraft to service. And the FAA said it would not grant any production expansion of the 737 Max lineup while its safety probe of Boeing continues. “We fly safe planes,” Calhoun said to reporters assembled on Capitol Hill. A week earlier, Calhoun acknowledged the company made a “mistake” at a staff-wide safety meeting, but he did not specify what that mistake was. Two Max variants — the Max 7 and the Max 10 — are still awaiting approval to begin carrying passengers.

Persons: David Calhoun’s, Max, Mike Whitaker, United, Whitaker, ”, “, Mr, Calhoun, ” Calhoun, Washington Democratic Sen, Maria Cantwell, ” Cantwell, Jennifer Homendy, —, Wells Organizations: New, New York CNN, Boeing, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Alaska Airlines, Airlines, Washington Calhoun’s, Washington, Capitol, Washington Democratic, Senate, National Transportation Safety Locations: New York, Alaska, United, Washington, Wells, Indonesia, Ethiopia

☆ Boeing CEO tells contractors ‘we’re going to learn from’ Alaska Airlines incident
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Pete Muntean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Boeing says its CEO told workers of Spirit AeroSystems — its subcontractor that builds the 737 Max 9 fuselage — that “we’re going to learn from” this month’s blowout on Alaska Airlines flight 1282. Boeing says CEO Dave Calhoun addressed 200 Spirit AeroSystems employees as part of a town hall meeting held in Wichita, Kansas, on Wednesday. Spirit AeroSystems is a major Boeing contractor that builds the fuselages of several Boeing jets, including the 737 Max. But the Alaska Airlines incident is not the first time that there have been problems with the quality of its work causing problems for Boeing planes. The supplier used to be part of Boeing but Boeing spun-off its Wichita division and Oklahoma operations into Spirit AeroSystems.

Persons: Dave Calhoun, Calhoun, Pat Shanahan, “ We’re, AeroSystems, Max, CNN’s Chris Isidore Organizations: CNN, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, AeroSystems, Spirit, Federal Aviation Administration, Max, FAA, Wichita Locations: Wichita , Kansas, Alaska, United States, Oklahoma

☆ The FAA’s 737 Max probe just widened to include Spirt Aerosystems
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Pete Muntean | Curt Devine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —The US Federal Aviation Administration is expanding its probe into Boeing 737 Max 9 quality control following this month’s in-flight blowout of a part of an Alaska Airlines plane. In a new statement released Wednesday, the FAA says it is now investigating contractor Spirit AeroSystems, which builds the fuselage of the Boeing 737 Max 9. Spirit Aerosystems did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The FAA says all 171 Boeing 737 Max 9s in the United States remain grounded, the agency has received new data from preliminary inspections of 40 of those airplanes. Spirit Aerosystems’ history of troubleShareholders of Spirit AeroSystems last year filed a federal lawsuit against the company, accusing it of “widespread and sustained quality failures” in its products.

Persons: Spirit, Boeing “, Aerosystems, “, Max, Spirit AeroSystems, Lever, Joe Buccino, AeroSystems, ” Organizations: Washington CNN, US Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing, Max, Alaska Airlines, FAA, NTSB, Spirit, ” Locations: United States

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