Boeing's new Max 9 problems aren't going away soon
National Transportation Safety Board
- The FAA announced a formal investigation into Boeing on Thursday.
- The investigation stems from Friday's incident where a door plug fell off a Boeing 737 Max 9 plane mid-flight.
- That means Boeing's headache over the incident won't end any time soon.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday it is launching an investigation into Boeing.
The investigation stems from an incident Friday, in which a door plug fell off an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 plane mid-flight. In a statement, the FAA said it was investigating "to determine if Boeing failed to ensure completed products conformed to its approved design and were in a condition for safe operation in compliance with FAA regulations." The FAA said the probe would cover the loss of the door plug and "additional discrepancies."
The FAA said the incident "should have never happened and it cannot happen again."
Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The FAA's launch of a formal investigation indicates that Boeing's headaches from the incident have likely just begun — and there won't be a quick fix.
The investigation is separate from the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the incident. The NTSB's website said it tries to complete investigations within 12 to 24 months.
All Max 9 planes remain grounded as the FAA and Boeing work to create and approve a plan to inspect the planes before they return to the air.