NTSB Chair Presses New Boeing CEO on Urgent Safety Culture Overhaul

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy has urged Boeing's new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, to address the company's safety culture issues following a January in-flight emergency involving a Boeing 737 MAX. The NTSB will conduct a safety culture survey as part of its ongoing investigation.

The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has called on new Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg to urgently address what she described as the company's 'safety culture problem.' Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Washington, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said she had a recent conversation with Ortberg, stressing the importance of making significant changes.

'Unless they have a partnership with their workforce, a lot of these issues are not going to be fixed,' Homendy stated. She highlighted a lack of trust and fear of retaliation among Boeing's workforce, which she said is counterproductive to aviation safety. Homendy plans a more extended meeting with Ortberg and a visit to Renton, Washington, where Boeing manufactures the 737 MAX, at a future date.

While Boeing has not yet commented, Ortberg reportedly took the concerns seriously. The NTSB is currently investigating a January 5 Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 in-flight emergency involving a missing door panel. The agency is still in the fact-finding phase and will soon conduct a safety culture survey of Boeing.

Simultaneously, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) head Mike Whitaker met with Ortberg last month to ensure Boeing adheres to its quality turnaround plan. Ortberg, who became CEO on August 8, emphasized in an employee email the company's commitment to a true culture change, empowering employees to voice concerns and collaborate on solutions.

(With inputs from agencies.)