The National Transportation Safety Board has issued restrictions and sanctions on Boeing for disclosing non-public details of its investigation into the Alaska Airlines flight 1282 door plug blow-out during a media briefing at its Renton facility. The NTSB stated that Boeing violated its investigative regulations and party agreement by sharing information with the media and speculating about the possible causes of the incident. Following this breach, Boeing will no longer have access to the investigative information produced by the NTSB as the accident is being investigated further.
Boeing held a media briefing with around four dozen representatives from the U.S. and around the world. Among them was The Air Current, which first reported on the NTSB sanctions and characterized the disclosure of safety information as brief. The NTSB claims that a Boeing executive shared details of the investigation and provided analysis which is prohibited by the party status agreement that Boeing had signed when the investigation began. Reporters present at the event are under embargo from Boeing for full coverage of the briefing.
The most significant consequence of this breach is that it has created tension between the NTSB and Boeing as the U.S. Department of Justice reviews the plane manufacturer’s Deferred Prosecution Agreement. The DOJ is under pressure to press criminal charges against Boeing executives and issue heavy fines. The NTSB will be coordinating with the DOJ Fraud Division to provide details about Boeing’s unauthorized investigative information releases in the 737 MAX 9 door plug investigation. Boeing’s violation of the terms of its investigative party agreement and its unauthorized releases have caused a rift with the NTSB.
The NTSB was unaware of the planned media briefing before it took place, and it has not disclosed how it learned about the event or specifics of what was discussed with the press. Boeing shared a transcript of the event with the NTSB, revealing that it had violated the terms of its investigative party agreement by sharing unauthorized information. The NTSB is particularly concerned about Boeing’s framing of the ongoing investigation, which focused on finding the individual responsible for the door plug work rather than the probable cause of the accident.
In response to Boeing’s actions, the NTSB has stated that Boeing may retain its party status but will no longer have access to the investigative information produced by the NTSB as the accident is being investigated. The NTSB has also said that it may subpoena any Boeing records it requires and will subpoena Boeing to appear at a hearing scheduled for August 6 and 7 in Washington, D.C. During the hearing, Boeing will not be allowed to ask questions of other participants, unlike the other parties involved. The NTSB and Boeing’s relationship has been strained by Boeing’s unauthorized release of investigative information and the subsequent sanctions imposed by the NTSB.
Overall, the breach of regulations and party agreement by Boeing has led to significant consequences, including the restriction of access to investigative information and tensions with the NTSB and the U.S. Department of Justice. Boeing’s unauthorized sharing of information and speculation about the causes of the incident have created issues for the ongoing investigation into the Alaska Airlines flight 1282 door plug blow-out. Moving forward, Boeing will have limited participation in the investigation process and will be closely monitored by the NTSB and DOJ as the investigation continues.
