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The head of Boeing's 737 MAX program, Ed Clark, has left the company just over one month after a depressurization event on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9. Boeing shared in a memo that Ed Clark was leaving the company after 18 years, along with several other management changes in Boeing's commercial division.
CNN Correspondent and pilot Pete Muntean shared the memo on X (formerly Twitter)The memo, sent by Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal, included several changes for management roles for BCA. Clark would be leaving the company after 18 years with the company and Katie Ringgold would succeed him as VP and general manager of the 737 program and Renton site. Her replacement as VP of 737 Delivery Operations would be named soon, according to the memo. In addition, Elizabeth Lund was named to a new position of senior VP for BCA Quality, where she will lead quality control and assurance efforts, as well as the recent quality initiatives within BCA and the supply chain. Mike Fleming will succeed Lund as senior VP and GM of airplane programs and Don Ruhmann will succeed Fleming as VP of development programs and his replacement will be named soon.
The company has been going through extensive internal review and changes after the depressurization incident on Jan. 5. About 10 minutes into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 a door plug was blown off of the plane at 16,000 feet. The plane landed and the passengers escaped without serious injury, but the repercussions are still being felt across the industry. The FAA grounded the 737 MAX 9 variant to have each aircraft examined for loose or missing bolts and issued an emergency airworthiness directive. Days later, the FAA announced it was conducting an investigation to determine whether Boeing failed to ensure completed products conformed to approved design, were safe for operation and in compliance with FAA regulations. Both Alaska Airlines and United reported finding loose parts on the grounded aircraft and Boeing CEO told news outlets there was a quality escape that led to the nearly tragic incident.RELATED STORIES:Boeing 737 MAX 9 was missing bolts before depressurization eventBoeing withdraws 737 MAX 7 FAA exemption requestBoeing CEO admits 'mistake' as FAA launches safety probeLatest on 737 MAX 9 Alaska Airlines emergency - aircraft had prior issues before panel ripped off mid-flightJust after launching an investigation, the FAA shared that it was taking new and significant action to increase the oversight of Boeing production and manufacturing. The FAA also told Boeing it would suspend any expansion to the 737 MAX production line. After Boeing admitted there was a quality escape, the company held a "Quality Stand Down" to allow employees to take part in work sessions with a focus on hands-on learning, reflection and collaboration to identify where quality and compliance need improvement.
Just one month after the depressurization event, the NTSB released its preliminary report on the incident, reporting that the bolts were missing before the door blew off. The investigation of the door plug found that the four bolts necessary to prevent the plug from moving vertically and out of the fuselage were missing before the event. Records indicate the plug was removed to access damaged rivets and the door plug was reinstalled. There was no record that the door plug was opened or removed after leaving Boeing's facility. After the report was released, Boeing said in a statement on its website that it was accountable for what happened and the company would be taking immediate action to strengthen quality, including a control plan and adding additional inspections further into the supply chain.See the latest updates on the 737-9 from Boeing
"Whatever final conclusions are reached, Boeing is accountable for what happened," Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun said. " An event like this must not happen on an airplane that leaves our factory. We simply must do better for our customers and their passengers. We are implementing a comprehensive plan to strengthen quality and the confidence of our stakeholders. It will take significant, demonstrated action and transparency at every turn - and that is where we are squarely focused."
The big news about Clark's departure from Boeing was shared by the Seattle Times. A confidential person familiar with the decision told the Seattle Times that Clark's leaving was not voluntary. Boeing has not released a public statement on its website or social channels at the time of publication.