WASHINGTON, DC – The Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed in a letter to a Senate committee the challenges her agency is facing in determining who was responsible for a panel detachment incident on a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft operated by Alaska Airlines in January.
Jennifer Homendy stated that Boeing’s CEO informed her that the company does not possess records regarding the personnel who worked on the panel that detached from the jetliner, complicating the NTSB’s investigation. The NTSB had requested security camera footage from Boeing in hopes of identifying the workers involved in the incident, but the video had already been overwritten.
Despite Boeing’s promise to cooperate with the investigation, Homendy expressed frustration over the lack of information provided. She emphasized the importance of identifying the workers responsible for removing the panel, which is used to cover emergency door openings on the aircraft.
After her appearance before the Senate Commerce Committee, Boeing provided names of 25 employees who work on doors at the company’s 737 factory near Seattle. However, the company has not disclosed which employee removed the panel in question. Even after reaching out to Boeing CEO David Calhoun, Homendy was unable to obtain the information she sought.
The NTSB Chair acknowledged the potential drawbacks of focusing on identifying specific workers, as it could deter individuals from cooperating with investigators. To address this concern, Homendy instructed her staff to protect the identities of Boeing employees who come forward with information.
The lack of records from Boeing regarding the panel incident has raised concerns about the transparency of the company’s operations and its ability to provide crucial information for investigations. The NTSB will continue its efforts to uncover the truth behind the panel detachment incident, despite the challenges posed by the lack of documentation.