The Texas Attorney General’s Office has opened an investigation targeting Spirit Aerosystems, a subcontractor of the American aircraft manufacturer Boeing, where “recurring problems with certain parts” have been identified, according to a press release published Thursday, March 28.
Spirit AeroSystems manufactures fuselages and other large parts that fit into the structure of aircraft, including Boeing’s flagship aircraft, the 737. However, “apparent manufacturing defects have led to numerous worrying or dangerous incidents” on models of 737, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton detailed in a statement Thursday.
At the beginning of January, Boeing came close to disaster when a cap door came loose in mid-flight from the cabin of an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9, fortunately causing only a few minor injuries. Several investigations have been launched, highlighting recurring “non-compliance” issues.
Succession of quality and safety problems
Justice is now asking Spirit AeroSystems to produce “documents corresponding to the treatment of defects in its products”, and in addition to quality control, the investigation is also interested in its mode of organization and management. The investigation comes just days after Boeing Chief Executive Officer Dave Calhoun was announced to be leaving the company at the end of the year.
“I will hold responsible any company that fails to ensure the required legal standards and will do everything in my power to ensure that manufacturers take passenger safety seriously,” insisted Ken Paxton in his press release.
The large American group Boeing, which had already struggled to recover after two crashes in 2018 and 2019, is in turmoil following a succession of quality and safety problems on its planes for more than ‘a year.
