US transportation chief demands meeting with Boeing CEO on safety

US Transportation Chief summons Boeing CEO over safety concerns

Robert Besser
18 Feb 2025, 15:18 GMT+10

US transportation chief demands meeting with Boeing CEO on safety

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week that he asked Boeing’s CEO to come to Washington, D.C., "as soon as possible" to discuss the company's ongoing quality and safety concerns
Boeing has been under intense scrutiny after a series of safety problems, including an incident last year in which a door panel flew off an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 while in mid-air
Following the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) increased its oversight of Boeing

WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week that he asked Boeing's CEO to come to Washington, D.C., "as soon as possible" to discuss the company's ongoing quality and safety concerns.

Boeing has been under intense scrutiny after a series of safety problems, including an incident last year in which a door panel flew off an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 while in mid-air. Following the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) increased its oversight of Boeing.

Duffy also posted on X that he plans to visit Boeing himself to personally assess the steps being taken to improve safety and ensure the company's planes meet the highest standards. Boeing has not yet responded to requests for comment.

During his confirmation hearing, Duffy emphasized the importance of making sure Boeing follows through on its safety commitments. He also confirmed that he would continue the cap on the production of Boeing's 737 MAX planes, which was introduced after the mid-air panel failure.

In January 2024, then-FAA chief Mike Whitaker set a production cap of 38 MAX planes per month. While Boeing has not yet reached that limit, the restriction slows its financial recovery and makes it harder for the company to compete with its main rival, Airbus.