The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that it will increase its inspections and monitoring of aircraft manufacturer Boeing following a recent incident involving a door panel blowing out of a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet while in flight. The announcement was made by FAA chief Mike Whitaker during his appearance before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Aviation Subcommittee.

Whitaker stated that the FAA will have more personnel on the ground closely scrutinizing and monitoring production and manufacturing activities at Boeing. He also encouraged Boeing employees to use the FAA hotline to report any safety concerns. The incident with the door panel occurred on an Alaska Airlines flight on January 5, shortly after it took off from Portland, Oregon. As a result, the FAA quickly grounded similar Max 9 jets. However, after inspections, the FAA allowed the planes to return to the skies.

Whitaker emphasized that safety is the FAA's top priority and that recent events have shown the agency cannot become complacent when it comes to maintaining safety and public confidence in the aviation system. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also announced that it will release its preliminary report on the incident later in the day.

The FAA's increased scrutiny of Boeing comes amid a series of crises involving the Max series of aircraft. The grounding of Max 8 jets in 2018 and 2019 following two deadly crashes raised concerns about Boeing's manufacturing practices and the FAA's oversight of the company. The incident with the door panel has further prompted scrutiny of the FAA's track record in monitoring Boeing and allowing the company's employees to perform safety work on behalf of the government.

In addition to the increased inspections, the FAA has barred Boeing from expanding production of the 737 Max series until it addresses quality-control issues. Meanwhile, discussions about raising the retirement age for pilots also arose during the hearing. Last year, the House voted to increase the retirement age to 67 from 65 for pilots as part of a broader bill covering FAA operations. The Senate committee is scheduled to discuss a version of the measure on Thursday. Whitaker stated that the FAA wants to study the potential safety risks of raising the mandatory retirement age before making any changes.

The FAA's actions reflect its commitment to ensuring the safety of the flying public and holding Boeing accountable for any violations of safety regulations. The agency's increased presence and scrutiny will help address concerns about Boeing's manufacturing processes and the FAA's oversight. The NTSB's preliminary report on the door panel incident will provide further insight into the cause of the incident. As the situation unfolds, it is clear that both Boeing and the FAA will face continued scrutiny and pressure to prioritize safety in the aviation industry.