Boeing CEO: Alaska Airlines incident 'our mistake,' vows transparency

NEW YORK, United States — Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun took responsibility on Tuesday for a near-catastrophic Alaska Airlines incident last week, vowing "complete transparency" as the aviation giant tries to pivot from its latest crisis.

"We're going to approach this (by) number one acknowledging our mistake," Calhoun told employees at a safety meeting called after Friday's emergency landing, which came after one of the plane's panels blew out mid-flight.

"We're going to approach it with 100 percent and complete transparency every step of the way," he said.

Calhoun, who ascended to Boeing's top post in January 2020 as the company reeled from two fatal crashes on the 737 MAX, committed to working with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is probing the incident.

The NTSB is "as good as it gets," Calhoun said, according to remarks released by the company. "I trust every step they take, and they will get to a conclusion."

US regulators have grounded 171 737 MAX 9 planes with the same configuration as the Alaska Airlines jet.

The affected panel, a door plug, is used to fill an unneeded emergency exit in planes.

NTSB investigators suggested Monday night that the part was not affixed adequately.

On Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was still working with Boeing to finalize detailed inspection instructions for grounded planes.

"Boeing offered an initial version of instructions yesterday which they are now revising because of feedback received in response," the FAA said Tuesday.

"Upon receiving the revised version of instructions from Boeing the FAA will conduct a thorough review."

Boeing said it is in contact with customers and the FAA on requirements.

"As part of the process, we are making updates based on their feedback and requirements," a spokesman said.

The back-and-forth on inspections comes after both United Airlines and Alaska Airlines reported Monday finding loose hardware on some of their Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes during preliminary inspections undertaken since Friday's incident.

Hundreds of flights have been canceled due to the grounding of a fraction of the MAX fleet.

Alaska Airlines apologized to