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Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems execs to affirm at NTSB hearing on MAX 9 emergency

The National Transportation Safety Board stated a number of Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems executives will affirm at a twoday hearing starting Tuesday on the midair blowout of an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 door plug in January.

Boeing's senior vice president for quality Elizabeth Lund and Doug Ackerman, vice president of provider quality for Boeing, are among those that will testify, the NTSB stated.

Terry George, senior vice president and basic supervisor for Boeing Program at Spirit AeroSystems, and Scott Grabon, a senior director for 737 quality at Spirit, that makes the fuselage for the MAX, will likewise appear, it added.

Last month Boeing accepted redeem Spirit AeroSystems, whose core plants it spun off in 2005, for $4.7 billion in stock, and Airbus relocated to handle the supplier's loss-making Europe-focused activities.

A Number Of Federal Air travel Administration officials will also affirm at the hearing set up to last 20 hours over 2 days on the blowout of the Alaska Boeing 737 MAX 9 door plug with four missing bolts.

The hearing will evaluate problems consisting of 737 production and evaluations, security management and quality management systems, FAA oversight, and issues surrounding the opening and closing of the door plug.

Boeing has actually stated no paperwork exists to document the removal of the bolts.

Boeing and the FAA did not immediately comment. A Spirit representative said the company is totally devoted to complying with the NTSB in its investigation into this event.

The FAA in January barred Boeing from broadening 737 production. In June, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said the company was too hands off in oversight of Boeing before January.

Likewise in June, the NTSB said Boeing violated examination guidelines by supplying non-public details to media and speculating about possible causes.

The security board stated remarks to media made by Lund were either unreliable or unidentified to the NTSB, while others had not been previously disclosed.

The NTSB said Boeing would no longer see information produced during its probe and, unlike other celebrations, will now not be permitted to ask concerns of other individuals during the hearing.

Last month, Boeing accepted plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge and pay a fine of $243.6 million to fix a U.S. Justice Department investigation into 2 737 MAX fatal crashes.

(source: Reuters)