Reports: US Dept. of Justice Investigating Boeing

Improve the News Foundation -

Facts

  • According to several US media outlets, the US Dept. of Justice (DOJ) has opened a criminal investigation of aircraft manufacturer Boeing related to an early January incident on an Alaska Airlines flight.1
  • Alaska Airlines said it was cooperating with the probe, while Boeing declined comment about the investigation, which has reportedly included interviewing witnesses — including aircrew — about the Jan. 5 incident in which part of the fuselage blew off while in the air.2
  • Pilots were able to safely land the plane and there were no major injuries after a panel for an additional emergency door blew off. The National Transportation Safety Board opened an investigation, and the Federal Aviation Administration began looking into Boeing's safety record.3
  • The DOJ probe will help determine whether anything that caused the Jan. 5 incident occurred because Boeing failed to fulfill its duties related to a settlement from a federal investigation of the safety of its 737 Max plane, which was involved in deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019.3
  • Boeing stock dropped 2.9% to $192.78 a share in early trading Monday, costing the company $3B in market value.4

Sources: 1The New York Times, 2Al Jazeera, 3The Hill and 4Barron's.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Washington Post. Obviously, the DOJ's 2021 deal, which was supposed to hold Boeing to account for the crashes that killed more than 300 people, didn't do enough to cause change at the company. Boeing was allowed buy its way out of trouble. The Jan. 5 incident will hopefully reinvigorate the DOJ to do what it takes to hold Boeing accountable for its lax safety standards.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Forbes. The National Transportation Safety Board is already probing what may have led to the Jan. 5 incident and whether Boeing's lack of dedication to safety led to the plug blowing off the aircraft. The DOJ getting involved at this point could intimidate witnesses who are cooperating with the Board but might clam up if there's a risk of criminal charges. It could be too early for the DOJ to interject.

Predictions