Adhesive problem - US authority has Boeing's oxygen masks tested
The US aviation authority is ordering the inspection of approximately 2,600 Boeing aircraft due to potential slippage issues with oxygen masks caused by problematic adhesive material. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) issued this directive on Monday and warned that this issue could impact the functionality of the technology. Several reports have indicated that oxygen mask units have shifted.
Affected models include older and newer variants of the Boeing 737. The FAA is currently unable to estimate how many planes are affected and require repairs. The oxygen generators and masks are mounted above the seats.
Boeing under Pressure
Boeing has been under intense pressure to improve safety oversight in production since the beginning of the year, when a fragment of the fuselage from a nearly new 737-9 Max aircraft detached mid-flight. No one was injured in the incident. However, the seats next to the hole in the fuselage were empty due to a fortunate coincidence.
Boeing admitted to defrauding the US government on Monday regarding a lawsuit involving two fatal crashes of 737 Max aircraft in October 2018 and March 2019, which resulted in the deaths of 346 people. Boeing had previously avoided prosecution by agreeing to implement a Compliance and Ethics Program. The company also paid a fine of $243.6 million. The Justice Department determined in May that Boeing had violated the terms of the settlement.
According to court documents released late on Sunday, Boeing, as part of its guilty plea, is required to invest at least $455 million in Compliance and Safety programs. Additionally, a fine of $243.6 million is to be paid. The agreement will only take effect once it is approved by the court in Texas where the case is being heard.
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from the USA is demanding inspections of Boeing aircraft due to potential oxygen mask slippage issues related to substandard adhesive material, affecting around 2,600 planes.
- The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently ordered inspections of Boeing aircraft, including models like the 737, following reports of oxygen mask units shifting, adding to the pressure Boeing is facing over safety concerns.
- In response to the directive issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Boeing is now under scrutiny for aircraft construction issues related to the potential malfunction of oxygen masks, further intensifying the criticism they have been facing since the beginning of the year.
