Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is turning up the heat on Spirit AeroSystems as part of a broader investigation into air travel safety, specifically targeting the parts supplier for Boeing’s troubled 737 aircraft. Citing "deeply concerning" risks that could be "potentially life-threatening to Texans," Paxton announced the probe, determined to ensure those responsible for manufacturing defects are held accountable. “I will hold any company responsible if they fail to maintain the standards required by the law and will do everything in my power to ensure manufacturers take passenger safety seriously,” Paxton was quoted in a KENS5 news release.
Following a spate of troubling incidents, including an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 losing a door plug mid-flight, Paxton's office is now demanding documents related to Spirit AeroSystems' manufacturing processes. However, thrown into the mix of safety checks and manufacturing protocols, Paxton has also made a request for the company's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments. The move falls in line with the state's recent approach to DEI initiatives, which saw the implementation of a ban on such programs at state colleges and universities in Texas, as per SB 17, and Paxton is now looking into whether these commitments are “unlawful or are compromising the company’s manufacturing process,” according to the KERA news announcement.
In response to Paxton's inquiries, Spirit AeroSystems has remained tight-lipped, focusing its public statements on quality assurance rather than the investigation's specifics. "While we do not comment on investigations, Spirit is wholly focused on providing the highest quality products to all our customers, to include the Boeing Company," Spirit AeroSystems said in a statement obtained by KHOU.
The investigation arrives amidst an audit by the Federal Aviation Administration, which revealed lapses in quality control standards between Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems without mentioning DEI issues. But despite manufacturing concerns, Boeing is continuing talks to acquire Spirit AeroSystems. In a backdrop fraught with maintenance mishaps, including a United Airlines jet sliding off a Houston taxiway, the industry faces sharpened scrutiny. Adding to the significant disquiet, this month Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun and the company’s head of commercial airplanes announced their impending departures. Yet in their looming absence, the conversation about accountability and the insistence on quality and safety remains audibly present, being driven forward by Paxton's relentless push for transparency and adherence to lawful standards in manufacturing.
