The door plug blowout on a Boeing 737 Max 9 earlier this month has unleashed a tidal wave of self-appointed aerospace experts on social media who firmly believe they have found the root of the planemaker’s woes without any evidence. Former reality TV supporting actor Donald Trump Jr. and sober SpaceX founder Elon Musk are among the uncertified masses declaring that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are jeopardizing Boeing airliners.
However, federal regulators and Boeing’s own employees cite a lack of factory quality control as being the likely leading cause of the door plug failure. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) suspect that Boeing did not install the plug’s bolts. The Seattle Times reported that a Boeing whistleblower publicly shared information that supports the NTSB theory:
“The reason the door blew off is stated in black and white in Boeing’s own records,” the whistleblower wrote. “It is also very, very stupid and speaks volumes about the quality culture at certain portions of the business.”
The self-described Boeing insider said company records show four bolts that prevent the door plug from sliding up off the door frame stop pads that take the pressurization loads in flight, “were not installed when Boeing delivered the airplane.” the whistleblower stated. “Our own records reflect this.”
While the NTSB investigation is still ongoing, it’s pretty clear what direction it is heading in. I mean, this is a plane built by a company that has already shown disastrous manufacturing defects in the 737 Max spurred by lax quality control and rushed manufacturing, with the disastrous result of two fatal air plane crashes.
But no, Trump, Musk and others still have their own agendas to peddle despite the facts surrounding recent incidents. Amplifying an unrelated gotcha, Boeing’s executive DEI bonus scheme, Musk posted on X, “Do you want to fly in an airplane where they prioritized DEI hiring over your safety? That is actually happening.” He added as a reply, “People will die due to DEI.”
Trump Jr. added two cents from his allowance alongside the air traffic communications account of a wheel falling off a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 before a takeoff on the runway in Atlanta. He posted on X, “I’m sure this has nothing to do with mandated Diversity Equity and Inclusion practices in the airline industry!!!” The incident was likely caused by poor maintenance from Delta. Maybe he’s a little worried that the maintenance on his father’s 757 might not be up to standard either.
Trump Jr. gets so close to the heart of the problem, “Wheels don’t just fall off planes without gross incompetence in the equation!” It’s in Boeing’s best interest to fulfill orders as quickly as possible and build as many planes as possible, potentially allowing faults to happen frequently. It’s why the Federal Aviation Administration has stopped Boeing’s plans to expand 737 Max production and not its DEI efforts.