NEW DELHI: Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun on Wednesday publicly accepted responsibility for the recent mid-air panel blowout incident on an Alaska Airlines flight.
In a first public acknowledgement of errors by the planemaker, Calhoun stated that the company will collaborate with regulators to ensure that such incidents never happen again.
“We’re going to approach this number one acknowledging our mistake. We’re going to approach it with 100% and complete transparency every step of the way,” Calhoun said in a statement.
He also emphasized the company’s duty to ensuring the safety of every aircraft that takes to the skies. Calhoun commended the Alaska Airlines crew for their swift response in safely landing the 737 MAX 9 plane after the panel was ripped off during takeoff from Portland, Oregon.US
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded a total of 171 planes, causing numerous flight cancellations after the incident.
The panel that blew off the Alaska Airlines flight is a replacement for an optional exit door used by airlines with denser seating configurations. Both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, the other US 737 MAX 9 operator, have discovered loose parts on multiple grounded aircraft during preliminary checks.
The FAA stated that Boeing is revising its instructions for inspections and maintenance, which must be approved by the FAA before checks can commence on the grounded planes.
(With agency inputs)
