FAA

Workers and an unpainted Boeing 737 Max aircraft are pictured as the company's factory teams held a "Quality Stand Down" for the 737 program at Boeing's factory in Renton, Wash. on January 25, 2024.

National

The FAA gives Boeing 90 days to fix quality control issues. Critics say they run deep

4:44pm February 28, 2024

by Joel Rose

Boeing has 90 days to come up with a plan to fix quality control issues, the FAA said Wednesday. Critics say those problems go far beyond the door plug that blew off a 737 Max in midair last month.

The Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft is seen at Portland International Airport on January 9, 2024 in Oregon. The plane made an emergency landing following a midair fuselage blowout on Jan. 5. None of the 171 passengers and six crew members was seriously injured.

National

The FAA lays out a path for Boeing 737 Max 9 to fly again, but new concerns surface

9:22pm January 24, 2024

by Joel Rose

While the Federal Aviation Administration says the grounded 737 Max 9 aircraft can resume flying after inspections, the agency imposed sweeping jet production restrictions at Boeing factories.

A United Airlines Boeing 737-900ER arrives at Los Angeles International Airport in 2019.

National

The FAA says airlines should check the door plugs on another model of Boeing plane

3:41pm January 22, 2024

by Joel Rose

The Federal Aviation Administration is recommending that airlines visually inspect the door plugs of Boeing 737-900ER jets after some airlines reported unspecified issues with the bolts.

Then-President Barack Obama walks down the stairs of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner at the company's production facility in Everett, Wash., in 2012.

'Cozy' relationship between Boeing and the U.S. draws scrutiny amid 737 Max 9 mess

3:03pm January 19, 2024

by Joel Rose

The latest safety lapse at Boeing renews concerns about the company's influence in Washington and whether federal regulators have delegated too much of their oversight authority to its employees.

Queue Listen Now

The door plug area of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, seen with the paneling removed, awaits inspection Wednesday at the airline's facilities at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in SeaTac, Wash.

National

The FAA is tightening oversight of Boeing and will audit production of the 737 Max 9

3:11pm January 12, 2024

by Joel Rose

Regulators say they're increasing control of Boeing production after a panel blew off a 737 Max 9 jet, and will re-examine whether the company can be trusted to assess the safety of its own planes.

Queue Listen Now

Pristine Floyde searches for a friend's suitcase in a baggage holding area for Southwest Airlines at Denver International Airport in December 2022.

National

Southwest will pay a $140 million fine for its meltdown during the 2022 holidays

9:45am December 18, 2023

by Joel Rose

The U.S. Transportation Department ordered Southwest Airlines to pay a $140 million civil penalty as part of an agreement over operational failures that stranded millions of passengers a year ago.

United Air Lines planes line up along the busy Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, on the eve of Thanksgiving on November 23, 2022.

National

A strained U.S. aviation system braces for a record-setting week of holiday travel

1:20pm November 20, 2023

by Joel Rose

Records are likely to fall as millions of Americans take to the skies for Thanksgiving. Federal regulators say they're working to keep the system safe after a troubling report from outside experts.

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy (left) testifies at a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing on aviation safety, with Air Line Pilots Association President Capt. Jason Ambrosi (center) and National Air Traffic Controller Association President Rich Santa (right).

National

A shortage of air traffic controllers is hurting safety, aviation experts warn Senate

1:44pm November 09, 2023

by Joel Rose

At a Senate hearing, aviation experts testified that a shortage of air traffic controllers is leading to fatigue and distraction, likely contributing to a series of close calls on runways this year.

Michael Whitaker of Vermont testifies during his nomination to be administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, Oct. 4, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

National

Senate votes 98-0 to confirm Biden's nominee to run the FAA

1:21am October 25, 2023

by The Associated Press

The approval of Michael Whitaker, former deputy FAA administrator, ends a span of nearly 19 months in which the agency was without a Senate-confirmed chief.

A United Airlines Boeing 737 airplane passes a Southwest Airlines jet while taking off from Los Angeles International Airport on September 11, 2023.

National

White House nominee to lead the FAA glides through a Senate committee vote

12:59pm October 18, 2023

by Joel Rose

The Senate Commerce Committee voted to advance the nomination of Michael Whitaker to head the FAA, at a time when aviation experts say the U.S. air travel system shows mounting signs of stress.