FAA Head Says Agency Was Too ‘Hands Off’ Before Boeing Door Incident

Michael Whitaker, the administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), testified to the U.S. Senate on June 13 about Boeing’s implementation of the FAA’s 90-day safety plan, suggesting the agency was too “hands-off” with the company prior to a January midair incident that triggered further scrutiny. Mr. Whitaker appeared before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to discuss the FAA’s oversight of Boeing’s aviation manufacturing following the Jan. 5 Alaska Airlines incident when a door panel blew off a 737 Max 9 shortly after takeoff. As a result of the incident, the FAA in February capped production levels on the 737 Max and gave Boeing 90 days to submit a comprehensive safety plan to the agency to ensure manufacturing quality control and prevent further mishaps....