A person walks past an unpainted Boeing 737-8 MAX parked at Renton Municipal Airport next to the Boeing factory in Renton, Washington on January 25, 2024.
Jason Redmond | AFP | Getty Images
Boeing is replacing the head of its 737 Max program less than two months after a panel on one of the jet models blew out during a Alaska Airlines flight, leading to a brief federal grounding of the aircraft and increased scrutiny of the aircraft manufacturer's operations.
The head of the company's 737 program, Ed Clark, is leaving the company, Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing's commercial aircraft unit, said in a memo to employees. Katie Ringgold will become president and general manager of the program and the company's location in Renton, Washington, Deal said.
“I am announcing several leadership changes as we continue to drive BCA's enhanced focus on ensuring that every aircraft we deliver meets or exceeds all quality and safety requirements. Our customers demand and deserve nothing less,” said Deal.
Boeing has named Elizabeth Lund senior vice president of quality for the commercial aircraft unit, Deal said in the note. Lund will continue to report to him, it added. The leadership changes are effective immediately.
“Ed leaves with my and our deepest gratitude for his many important contributions over nearly 18 years of dedicated service to Boeing,” said Deal.
The Jan. 5 accident on board the Alaska Airlines flight is the latest crisis for Boeing, which is trying to find its footing after the fatal crashes of its Boeing 737 Max 8 in 2018 and 2019, killing all 346 people aboard the flights perished.
It is also the latest and most serious in a series of quality defects in Boeing aircraft that have delayed deliveries to customers. A month after the Alaska Airlines flight, Boeing said improperly drilled holes on some Max planes would delay the plane's handover to airlines.
CEOs, including those at Alaska and United, have publicly expressed frustration with Boeing as they wait for new planes to take advantage of the post-pandemic travel boom.
The door plug that flew out of the nearly brand new 737 Max 9 used for Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 has already led to increased scrutiny and restrictions from federal regulators.
The bolts on that panel, which closes an unused emergency exit, did not appear to have been reinstalled before it was turned over to Alaska Airlines last year, a preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board found.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it has stepped up direct inspections of Boeing's Max production lines and would ban the manufacturer from increasing production until the agency is satisfied with quality controls.
As Boeing struggles to fix defects along the production line, rivals Airbus has increased both production and delivery of new aircraft.
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