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WEKU
WEKU
National
Joel Rose

Boeing's quality control draws criticism as a whistleblower alleges lapses at factory

Alaska Airlines N704AL, a Boeing 737 Max 9, which made an emergency landing at Portland International Airport on January 5 is parked at a maintenance hanger in Portland, Ore. on January 23, 2024. One of two door plugs on the emergency exit door blew out shortly after the plane took off from Portland. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — Concerns about quality control at Boeing are mounting, as new revelations from an alleged whistleblower suggest mistakes at the company's factory led to a fuselage panel blowing off an Alaska Airlines jet in midair earlier this month.

No one was seriously injured when the panel known as a door plug blew off at 16,000 feet. But the dramatic incident has renewed questions about Boeing's manufacturing processes, and whether the company is prioritizing speed and profit over safety.

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