DALLAS (AP) — A Texas attorney general has opened an investigation into a major Boeing supplier that is already facing scrutiny from federal regulators over the quality of parts it supplies to the planemaker.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office said it had begun investigating Spirit AeroSystems because of “apparent manufacturing defects” in parts that “resulted in numerous troubling or serious incidents.”
In a statement on Friday, a Spirit spokesperson said: “Although we do not comment on investigations, Spirit is fully focused on providing high-quality products to all of our customers, including Boeing.”
Paxton asked the Wichita, Kansas-based supplier to turn over documents produced since the beginning of 2022 about communicating with investors and Boeing about defects in parts and corrective steps the company has taken.
The request goes into detail seeking internal discussions about Spirit's efforts to create a diverse workforce “and whether such commitments are unlawful or jeopardize the company's manufacturing operations.” Paxton asked about the breakdown of Spirit's workforce by race, sexual orientation and other factors, and whether the composition has changed over time.
Since the door stopper made with the soul The plate exploded And on Alaska Airlines' Boeing 737 MAX plane in January, some conservatives tried to tie aviation safety to diversity in manufacturers.
Paxton is a conservative Republican who agreed this week to pay $271,000 in restitution to victims and take 15 hours of training in legal ethics to settle. Felony securities fraud charges. Paxton did not admit to any wrongdoing in the case, which lasted 9 years.
The Federal Aviation Administration began an investigation into Boeing Spirit after the Alaska Airlines incident. An FAA review of manufacturing procedures at the company's Spirit plant gave the company failing grades in seven of 13 areas.
Boeing is in talks with Buy back the soulwhich emerged nearly 20 years ago, as part of a plan to tighten control over manufacturing in its supply chain.
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