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Boeing is redesigning a component of the 737 Max aircraft after a door plug blew out mid-flight in January. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) grilled Boeing and supplier Spirit AeroSystems about their safety and manufacturing culture during a hearing. The NTSB found that the door plug had not been properly reinserted and was missing bolts to hold it down. Boeing has made changes to its management team, announced the repurchase of Spirit, and slowed production to improve build quality since the accident. The NTSB expressed concerns about Boeing's safety culture and the lack of documentation regarding the panel's removal. Boeing has retrained mechanics and managers, increased inspections, and implemented an internal safety program called "Speak Up" since the accident. However, the union representing Boeing workers expressed a lack of confidence in the program. [Extracted from the article]

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has received a significant increase in whistleblower reports regarding Boeing Co. In the first five months of 2024, the FAA received 126 tips, compared to only 11 in all of 2023. This surge in reports follows an incident in which a fuselage panel blew off a 737 Max jetliner during a flight. The FAA has multiple active investigations into Boeing, and the increase in reports is seen as a positive sign of an improving safety culture. Boeing has also implemented its own internal program for employees to submit safety concerns, but there have been criticisms regarding the anonymity of the program. [Extracted from the article]