Boeing replaces 737 Max chief Ed Clark after mid-air blowout
- An Alaska Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing last month after an incident that left a gaping hole in the cabin
- The episode, which led to 171 planes being grounded, has placed intense scrutiny on Boeing by US lawmakers and regulatory authorities
Boeing announced on Wednesday that the head of its 737 Max programme is departing the aviation giant less than two months after a major safety incident temporarily grounded 171 planes.
Ed Clark, an 18-year Boeing veteran, is “leaving the programme”, Boeing Commercial Aviation (BCA) chief Stan Deal said in a memo released by the company that named Katie Ringgold as his replacement.
The move comes after an Alaska Airlines-operated 737 Max on January 5 suffered a mid-flight blowout of an air panel on the fuselage, necessitating an emergency landing after the plane was left with a gaping hole in the cabin.
While there were no serious injuries, safety inspectors said the incident could have been catastrophic.
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Boeing Max plane grounded globally after mid-air blowout leaving hole the size of a door
“Ed departs with my, and our, deepest gratitude for his many significant contributions over nearly 18 years of dedicated service to Boeing,” the memo said.
Clark had ascended to the role in March 2021, shortly after a 20-month grounding of the Max programme following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.