Ex-boeing senior staff members caution against flying on 737 max 9 planes, citing safety concerns and alleged pressure on employees
Former high-ranking staff members of Boeing have raised serious concerns about the safety of 737 MAX 9 airplanes, urging the public to avoid flying on them. The cautionary statements follow a recent incident where an Alaskan Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing due to a door plug detachment, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ground all Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes for investigation.
Ex-Boeing senior manager Ed Pierson, who worked in the factory where the planes were built, emphasized his reluctance to fly on a MAX airplane. Pierson highlighted the pressure employees faced to expedite production, expressing skepticism about the overall safety of the aircraft.
Another former Boeing engineer and FAA employee, Joe Jacobsen, echoed Pierson’s warning, describing the decision to allow the jets back into service as “premature.” Jacobsen, expressing concerns about Boeing’s prioritization of profit over quality control, advised his family and the public to steer clear of the 737 MAX.
The recent incident, coupled with the troubled history of the 737 MAX 8 involved in fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, has reignited scrutiny on Boeing’s commitment to safety. A September study revealed over 1,300 safety problem reports filed by airlines about Boeing’s MAX 8 and MAX 9 airplanes with the FAA.
Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun acknowledged a “quality escape” after the latest incident, emphasizing the need to strengthen safety and quality processes. Critics, including Pierson, view the decision to return the aircraft to service as a potential risk to public safety.
