The Federal Aviation Administration opened a formal investigation of Boeing’s aircraft operations following last week’s accident on one of its passenger jets, escalating a quality control crisis at the U.S. plane-maker.
The regulator said the company’s production practices must meet demanding safety standards for which it’s accountable. The investigation stems from a midair blowout of a so-called door plug on a 737 Max 9 jet operated by Alaska Airlines on Jan. 5.
"This incident should have never happened and it cannot happen again,” the agency said in a statement.