Safety Challenges and Quality Concerns with the 737 MAX Aircraft

The plane maker’s safety record is in the spotlight after a series of incidents. In January an unused door blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines shortly after take-off. An initial report from the US National Transportation Safety Board concluded that four bolts meant to attach the door securely to the aircraft had not been fitted. Prior to the incident, there had been other serious problems on the 737 Max production line, including the discovery of manufacturing defects affecting key parts of the planes, as well as a part protecting the central fuel tank against lightning strikes. A version of the 737 Max was also involved in two major accidents in late 2018 and early 2019, in which 346 people were killed. Those crashes were attributed to badly-designed flight control software. After the most recent incident, Boeing’s president Dave Calhoun said the company would be "implementing a comprehensive plan to strengthen quality and the confidence of our stakeholders.” So, what does Boeing need to do to win back trust? Celia Hatton is joined by a panel of expert guests.

David Soucie - A former top flight accident inspector with the US Federal Aviation Administration (the FAA) and author of "Why Planes Crash".

Oriana Pawlyk - Aviation reporter for Politico.

Sally Gethin - An independent global aviation and travel analyst.

Also in the programme:

Captain Dennis Tajer - Lead spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association and a pilot for American Airlines.

John Strickland - Aviation analyst and director of JLS Consulting.

Image: The Boeing logo as seen at the Farnborough International Airshow. Credit: Reuters/Peter Cziborra.