‘I Am Angry:’ Alaska Airlines CEO Slams Boeing in NBC News Interview

Key Points

• Alaska Airlines' CEO criticized Boeing for a door panel incident on a 737 Max 9 and revealed issues with loose bolts.
• The FAA grounded the Max 9, causing significant operational disruptions for Alaska and United Airlines.
• Boeing issued an apology and is working on a plan to improve quality and delivery, while FAA and NTSB investigations are ongoing.

Summary

Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci expressed his anger towards Boeing following a mid-air incident where a door panel blew out on a 737 Max 9. He highlighted issues found during in-house inspections, including loose bolts, prompting the FAA to ground the Max 9. Both Alaska and United Airlines have been significantly affected by the grounding, leading to numerous flight cancellations. Boeing has apologized and is working on a comprehensive plan to address the issues. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident and Boeing's quality control practices.