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Boeing’s 737 Max program is seeing a change in leadership after a dramatic incident with one of the planes. Previously responsible top manager Ed Clark is leaving the company with immediate effect. Boeing announced this on Wednesday. Katie Ringgold, who was previously responsible for deliveries, will be her successor.

In early January, shortly after takeoff, part of the fuselage of seat row 26 broke off while climbing onto a virtually new 737-9 Max with more than 170 people on board.

At this point, some multi-seat type configurations have a door. The affected variant of the 737-9 Max instead has a lid that closes the opening. No one was seriously injured in the incident involving an Alaska Airlines plane – coincidentally, the two seats immediately at the opening were empty.

Mounting bolts were missing

After a weeks-long investigation, the American accident investigation agency NTSB assumes that mounting bolts were missing from the fragment. Ringgold will also take over management of the Renton, Washington plant where the machines are assembled from Clark. The incident put pressure on Boeing to quickly improve quality controls.

Boeing is now creating a new position in the top management of the commercial aircraft division. Elizabeth Lund will provide quality control both within the group and among suppliers, division boss Stan Deal wrote in an email to employees. Previously, she oversaw the production of all Boeing passenger aircraft. The fuselage of the 737 Max models is mainly built by the supplier Spirit Aerosystems.

Incorrectly drilled holes

Boeing wants to ensure that every aircraft delivered meets or exceeds quality and safety requirements, Deal assured. In the 737 program there were problems with incorrectly drilled holes in the fuselage.

The American aviation authority FAA inspected Boeing’s production and after the incident halted the aircraft manufacturer’s plans to expand production of the 737 Max models until further notice. The group needs this to be able to process the order books. Customers should expect long waiting times. (saw/sda/dpa)