Boeing Faces $3.1 Million Fine Over Safety Violations Linked To 737 MAX Issues

Last Updated:September 13, 2025, 04:06 IST

This fine follows significant scrutiny of Boeing’s safety culture after the National Transportation Safety Board sharply criticised the company in June.

The FAA continues to conduct individual inspections of every 737 MAX and 787 aircraft (Representational image)

Boeing has been fined $3.1 million by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for multiple safety violations, including those connected to a January 2024 mid-air emergency involving an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 aircraft, according to a Reuters report released on Friday.

The FAA uncovered hundreds of quality control violations at Boeing’s 737 manufacturing facility in Renton, Washington, as well as at the 737 factory operated by Boeing subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas. Among the infractions, Boeing reportedly presented two aircraft deemed unairworthy to the FAA for certification and failed to adhere to its own quality control systems.

One troubling instance involved a Boeing employee allegedly pressuring a co-worker, who was performing FAA oversight tasks, to sign off on a 737 MAX airplane that did not meet regulatory standards. The motivation behind this pressure was reportedly to keep up with delivery schedules.

Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems have yet to issue comments on the FAA’s findings and the fine.

This fine follows significant scrutiny of Boeing’s safety culture after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sharply criticised the company in June. The NTSB’s investigation into the Alaska Airlines incident found that Boeing had failed to provide adequate training, guidance, and oversight to prevent the mid-air cabin panel blowout, which triggered a serious safety crisis for the aircraft manufacturer. The board also highlighted Boeing’s failure to install four critical bolts on a MAX 9 during production, as well as insufficient FAA oversight.

Meanwhile, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told Reuters earlier this week that the agency has not yet decided whether to lift the existing cap on 737 MAX production, which currently limits Boeing to 38 planes per month, a restriction in place since early 2024.

The FAA continues to conduct individual inspections of every 737 MAX and 787 aircraft before granting airworthiness certificates and clearance for delivery. Normally, this certification process is delegated to the manufacturer, but heightened oversight remains due to ongoing concerns.

News world Boeing Faces $3.1 Million Fine Over Safety Violations Linked To 737 MAX Issues

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