FAA proposes to fine Boeing $3.1 million over widespread safety violations

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday proposed fining Boeing $3.1 million for a series of safety violations, including actions tied to the January 2024 Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 mid-air emergency, and for interfering with safety officials’ independence.

The FAA found hundreds of quality system violations at the planemaker’s 737 factory in Renton, Washington, and Boeing subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems’ 737 factory in Wichita, Kansas.

The FAA also said Boeing presented two unairworthy aircraft to the FAA for airworthiness certificates and failed to follow its quality system rules.

The FAA found that a Boeing employee pressured another Boeing worker performing tasks on behalf of the FAA to sign off on a Boeing 737 MAX airplane so the com