Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) reportedly paid the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) a $3.1 million penalty in January 2026. The payment was made following an announcement by the FAA in September 2025 regarding proposed penalties.
The FAA cited multiple safety-related breaches, including interference with airworthiness inspections. The regulator accused Boeing of undermining the independence of safety personnel and of submitting two aircraft for approval that were not fit to fly.
According to a report by Reuters, federal inspectors documented hundreds of quality violations tied to Boeing’s 737 operations in Renton, Washington, and to fuselage work at Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas. The violations occurred between September 2023 and February 2024.
The report detailed a specific incident where a Boeing worker urged a colleague performing FAA-related duties to approve a 737 MAX so deliveries could stay on schedule. The colleague reportedly believed the plane failed to meet requirements.
The fine is connected to the 2024 Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 cabin incident. In that event, a door plug detached mid-flight, causing rapid cabin depressurization. The incident led to the temporary grounding of 737 MAX 9 aircraft.
Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Benzinga.
