US Regulatory Authority to Strengthen Oversight of Boeing Following Major Setback

US authorities are increasing their oversight of Boeing's manufacturing line following an incident where a door plug broke off one of its planes during a flight. The head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expressed concerns about the 737-9 Max jet, as well as other manufacturing problems. As a result, the FAA will be conducting an audit of the plane's production line and reviewing the responsibility for quality oversight. The FAA has previously delegated some quality reviewing to Boeing, but this practice has been controversial and raised safety concerns. In response to recent issues, the FAA is considering using an independent third party to oversee Boeing's inspections and quality system. Boeing has not yet commented on the matter. The company has been trying to regain public trust after two crashes involving a different plane in the 737 Max series resulted in the deaths of 346 people. The FAA and lax oversight by the agency were criticized for their role in those crashes. Boeing has encountered various manufacturing issues as production resumed, and the recent incident on the Alaska Airlines flight has brought further attention to these concerns. Passengers on the flight have filed a class action lawsuit against Boeing, describing the incident as a nightmare experience. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, and the FAA has officially launched an inquiry into Boeing's processes. The FAA has also grounded 171 planes, mostly from the 737-9 Max fleet, to inspect similar door plugs, which have revealed loose bolts and other problems. Boeing has pledged to cooperate fully with the investigations and has acknowledged the mistake, referring to the issue as a "quality escape". The FAA believes there may be additional manufacturing problems beyond the recent incident.