©Reuters. File photo: The fuselage cap area of the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Boeing 737-9 MAX, which was forced to make an emergency landing with a crack in the fuselage, is seen during the investigation by National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Portland,
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Boeing said on Friday it believes necessary documents detailing the removal of a key part during production of a 737 MAX 9 that failed during a mid-air emergency were never created, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said last month that the door plug that flew off an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 jet during flight on Jan. 5 appeared to be missing four latches.
Boeing (NYSE:) Executive Vice President Ziad Ojakli said in the letter to U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell: “We have looked thoroughly and found no such documentation” and that the plane maker’s working hypothesis was that “documents required by our processes were not created when the port cap was opened.”
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy on Wednesday criticized what she called Boeing’s lack of cooperation and failure to disclose documents, including the opening and closing of door caps, as well as the names of 25 factory workers. door crew at the 737 factory in Renton, Washington. .
“It’s crazy that two months later we no longer have it,” Homendy said during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing.
After Homendy’s comments, Boeing provided the 25 names, the company and NTSB said, and Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun spoke with Homendy.
Following the crash, which caused no injuries, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded the MAX 9 for several weeks in January, barred Boeing from increasing the MAX’s production rate, and ordered Boeing to develop a comprehensive plan to address “ systemic quality control problems”. “within 90 days.
Boeing’s letter said: “It appears from our records that this list was first requested from us on Saturday, March 2, via email, and the request was discussed by Boeing and the NTSB on Monday.”
Homendy said Wednesday that the NTSB had been trying for two months to identify the specific production shift and employees of the MAX 9, adding that the board had informed key lawmakers of its request for employee names during a Feb. 6 meeting.
“The NTSB needs to interview the employees,” he said. “The only way to ensure safety is to find out what happened, what was done and what wasn’t done.”
NTSB investigators have been at the 737 facility since Sunday conducting interviews.
Before Wednesday’s hearing, “Boeing was not aware of any complaints or concerns regarding the lack of cooperation,” Ojakli wrote, adding that Boeing was “committed to continuing to cooperate fully and transparently with the NTSB investigation.” and had provided “extensive documentation and documentation.”
He wrote that Boeing had previously provided the names of dozens of employees on or near the plane “during key periods, such as shifts when the door grip was opened and closed, including members of the door crew.”
Homendy plans to send his own letter to the Senate detailing the NTSB’s view on Boeing’s cooperation. An NTSB spokesman did not immediately comment Friday but said he stands by his testimony.