In the aftermath of the incident, which caused no injuries, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded the MAX 9 for several weeks in January, barred Boeing from increasing the MAX production rate and ordered Boeing to develop a comprehensive plan to address “systemic quality-control issues” within 90 days.
Boeing’s letter said: “It appears from our records this list was requested from us for the first time on Saturday, March 2, by email, and the request was discussed by Boeing and the NTSB on Monday.”
Homendy said on Wednesday the NTSB had been trying for two months to identify the specific MAX 9 production shift and employees, adding the board had told key lawmakers about its request for employee names during a Feb. 6 meeting.
“The NTSB needs to interview the employees,” she said. “The only way we ensure safety is to find out what happened – what was done, what was not done.”
NTSB investigators have been at the 737 plant since Sunday conducting interviews.
Before Wednesday’s hearing “Boeing was not aware of any complaints or concerns about a lack of collaboration”, Ojakli wrote, adding Boeing was “committed to continuing to cooperate fully and transparently with the NTSB’s investigation” and had provided “extensive records and documents”.
He wrote that Boeing had previously provided names of dozens of employees on or around “the subject airplane during key periods, such as the shifts on which the door plug was opened and closed, including members of the door crew”.
Homendy plans to send the Senate her own letter detailing the NTSB’s view of Boeing’s cooperation. An NTSB spokesperson did not immediately comment on Friday but has said she stands by her testimony.
Source: CNA
