Seeing blown off Boeing 737 Max-9 door mid-flight was no surprise, says former Boeing employee

Ed Pierson, former Boeing employee and executive director at Foundation for Aviation Safety, joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss his reaction to the blown-off door of a Boeing 737 Max-9, what's at the heart of Boeing 737 problems, and more.

[michaelkim]

Rather than granting Boeing inspection exceptions, they really should be subject to INCREASED inspections until they get their sh!t together! Boeing has been having quality issues in civilian, military and space lines of business and I'm afraid it's going to take people dying before we force the company to address the problems. Unfortunately, the millions that the company spends on lobbying efforts apparently has been paying off. Upper management as well as board members need to be held accountable here!

[tristantriton]

No one sells more Airbuses than Boeing. Hopefully Airbus cut them that bonus check.

[Retrracin]

I retired 4 years ago from the 737 Renton factory worked there 35 years. in the early 2000`s they paid toyota to show them how to build airplanes like they build cars. They even put the whole plane on a platform that moves. I remember in the 80s and 90`s when ninty percent of that plane was built in house there in Renton all though the 2000`s they offloaded everything to contractors and everything is delerverd as kits or packages for install in final assy. Saw many folks get laid off and lose their jobs.
My last 10 years there were pure hell, you would speak up and make noise and not be onboard they would just transfer you, they only had one concern and that was "how fast and cheap can we do this" so if you did not want to get sent to Everett you just shut up did your 8 hours and went home. they destroyed the whole manufacturing culture they once had. Not having be at that place at 4am everyday for the last 4 years has been great for my mental health too🙂

[MRithesky]

Business aviation in Seattle is frightening. I recently walked off from an employer that consistently ordered me to violate regulations. When I stood my ground they became punitive in nature. FAA seriously needs to investigate the entirety of aviation safety culture in Seattle

[ellas]

Pierson is right, the record speaks for itself. Boeing has not only seen the prioritization of profit over safety, in 2019 they continued to fly planes which they knew were dangerous, resulting in hundreds of unnecessary deaths. As for the seeing the open door, my own reaction was forthwith I fly C-130, at least they give you a parachute.

[kaptainkaos]

I have been to the Boeing plant many times inspecting aircraft to be delivered to the Navy. Boeing has to be the worst of all the major companies I’ve dealt with. When I’d find issues and document them instead of Boeing working thru the issues the company would go to the Navy and get them to accept the issues. It got to the point that my group was taken out of the inspection cycles because we found so many issues that cost them $$ to fix. It doesn’t help that the Navy leaders looking to retire will be going to work for Boeing so they’re not going to do anything to jeopardize their future jobs. The P-8 that’s based on the 737 will have issues, major safety issues, as they get hours on the airframe.

[barrygrant]

Back when the 737 Max was first grounded, my financial advisor called me about investing in Boeing stock. I told him no at the time, and that Boeing's problems ran much deeper than the 737 Max. I still would not invest in Boeing, nor would I fly on one of its aircraft.

[danieltheal]

It was lucky that the plane was still climbing and the seat belt signs were on. Imagine if the plane was at 35, 000 feet, the seat belt signs are off and there are people flying out the door along with the drink cart.

[Tahoe_Z]

If anyone is curious about the whistle blowers Pierson refers to, I encourage you to look for the YouTube documentary about the whistle blowers and the 737, "A Wing and a Prayer." I am Seattle-born and from a Boeing family. I was 727-200 crew in the 90's. I will never fly on a 737NG much less the MAX. Once you watch the documentary, you won't either.

[theguildedcage]

My first guess is that they simply did not how to use the software but to remove the quality inspections should be criminal.

[wm]

well, always money above lives here in the US.. FAA needs to step in

[undertow]

Boeing board meeting:

Chief engineer - I have the final engineering report . It says final system checks passed but testing revealed a potential problem. There’s only 2 fasteners on the door plug when the diagram calls for 5. We could delay release by one week and install the $10 fasteners but we’ll loose the million dollar on time bonus.

Board member “what happens if we don’t add the fasteners?

Engineer: Probably nothing, or the plug could blow out. If it happens at 35k feet the decompression will be explosive and everyone would die.

CEO: Oh tragic, we won’t get the on time bonus and it could also hurt our stock. Secretary. Please shred this document and everyone pretend this meeting never happened. Now let’s all bury our faces in this mountain of coke.

*dramatization of actual events

[micpep]

That’s what you get when you hire beancounters to design aircrafts.

[scotty]

The fact that so many things have gone bad for Boeing; it's starting to feel to me that something nefarious is involved.

[tomellingham]

"Why doesn't Airbus capitalise on this and have less orders?"

Short answer: Airbus does not compromise on build quality. Airbus is working at capacity and, yes, they want orders, but they're not going to rush things just to bash jets out the door.

[kvfrank]

I am a Boeing retiree who worked for 31 years on the C-17 Program; the GPS Program; the last 4 years on commercial aircraft. We (on C-17) were told that Commercial either didn't pay attention to processes/procedures nor would they write them to ensure a consistent product be delivered. When the 737 MAX's came along, my department was pushed continuously to review the documents; move them quickly. We knew at some point there were going to be problems, but there was nothing we could do. Nothing was unethical/illegal but when you're rushed continuously to complete your tasks, mistakes will be made. I have a friend who is a flight attendant for a major airline, and I advised her NOT to accept any flights on ANY 737 MAX. It's not going to be "if" it is "when" the next accident occurs which will cost lives.
We never lost one C-17 to quality issues, the one in Alaska was totally pilot error.

[smal]

Many years ago I heard some say: 'If it isn't a Boeing, I'm not going'. Now they seem to be saying 'If it is a Boeing, I'm not going'. So sad to watch the decline of this once great world leading company.

[SofaKingShit]

As a Norwegian l am blaming the Swedes whether or not it's actually their _fault_ at all.

[Williamb]

Couple of things:
a. Boeing must decouple bonuses for planes pumped (CEO, Chief operating officer, EVP of manufacturing and procurement, many engineers, manufacturing managers, and lead line supervisors…and ad aggressive metric relative to key safety measures
b. Boeing should NEVER have independence on their manufacturing or quality/safety processes…it is CLEAR they take advantage of this…Manufacturing and delivery processes and Inspection should be fully certified by an independent agency (truly certified and not abdicated back to Boeing because of the good old boy network in place) Also Boeing is trying to blame this on off spec third party parts (in this case Spirit manufactured the door plug)…that is bs…all parts should be triple checked including by those that take delivery of them.
I am certain that Airbus does not allow these kinds of mistakes. It is clear that Boeing is trying to out produce Airbus, specially since thousands of Max’s were grounded for almost 2 years.
Calhoun should be fired. This is a stark warning. I will not fly on any 737 Max variant…two crashed, two had engine failures, one a couple of months ago had lose bolts on the rudder, and now a entire door blows off…

[charliebahama]

Nothing will change at any company, UNLESS CEO's, Management and Directors who cause these issues and lie to the public, go to jail. Boeing did not do this, people at Boeing did this. It is the same at BP and VW and any company where the CEO's, Management and Directors lie and ignore warning signs... the people who are to blame need to be held criminally accountable...