March 15, 2024

Duckworth Secures Commitment from Boeing to Fix Safety Defect on the 737 MAX 10 Before Seeking Certification

 

[WASHINGTON, DC] – After pushing Boeing to do so, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the CST Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—issued the following statement after successfully securing a commitment from Boeing to fix a known safety flaw that could have catastrophic consequences for passengers and crew on the MAX 10 aircraft—the same defect that is on the MAX 7, 8 and 9—before seeking certification of the MAX 10. Additionally, as a result of Duckworth’s pressing, Boeing also estimated that it will have an engineering solution to this safety flaw designed within a year—as opposed to previous reports that Boeing wouldn’t be able to develop a fix to this problem until 2026.

"For the safety of the flying public, I'm relieved that Boeing committed to fixing the known safety defect on-board its 737 MAX 10 before attempting to certify and put yet another flawed aircraft into commerical service. I'm also appreciative that Boeing took my concern with the MAX 7 to heart and agreed to prioritize fixing this safety defect in all MAX aircrafts within the next year rather than its original 2026 timeline. When it comes to the safety of passengers and crew, this fix cannot come soon enough- and I will be closely monitoring Boeing's efforts to ensure it stays on track to permanently address this safety defect and keep the flying public safe."

This commitment from Boeing comes after Duckworth urged the aerospace giant to withdraw its reckless petition for an exemption from safety certification standards to allow its MAX 7 aircraft to enter commercial use with a known safety flaw. Days after Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun met with Senator Duckworth personally and heard her arguments, Boeing withdrew its petition regarding the MAX 7—crediting Duckworth’s efforts during the meeting as part of the reason the company changed course.