In the wake of the mid-air panel blowout incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, Ed Clark, the head of Boeing’s troubled 737 MAX program, has departed from the aerospace giant.

This marks the first significant departure following the alarming incident that occurred on January 5, prompting intensified scrutiny from regulators, customers, and lawmakers.

The departure of Clark, who oversaw Boeing’s production facility in Renton, Washington, where the affected aircraft was completed, comes as the company faces increasing pressure to address safety concerns.

Urgent inquiries

The incident involved a door panel detachment on a brand-new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9, prompting urgent inquiries into Boeing’s safety protocols.

Clark will be succeeded by Katie Ringgold as the new vice president and general manager, according to the memo issued by Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal.

Deal emphasised Boeing’s commitment to ensuring that every aircraft meets rigorous safety and quality standards, acknowledging the demands and expectations of their customers.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun is slated to meet with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Mike Whitaker in the coming week, following Whitaker’s visit to the Boeing 737 plant in Renton, Washington.

The FAA has grounded the MAX 9 temporarily and limited Boeing’s production while conducting audits on the company’s manufacturing processes.