The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $3.1 million fine on Boeing for a series of safety violations, some of which are linked to the Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 mid-air emergency in January 2024.

The FAA said it found hundreds of violations in Boeing’s quality systems at its 737-production facility in Renton, Washington, and at Spirit AeroSystems’ plant in Wichita, Kansas, which supplies key parts for Boeing aircraft.

According to the FAA, Boeing:

• Presented two unairworthy aircraft for final certification. • Failed to follow its own quality control rules.

• Pressured an employee performing FAA oversight duties to approve a 737 MAX aircraft for delivery, even though that employee had determined the aircraft did not meet required safety standards.

Neither Boeing nor Spirit AeroSystems has commented on the proposed fine. This is the latest development in the scrutiny surrounding Boeing after the Alaska Airlines cabin panel blowout earlier this year, when a door plug detached mid-flight.

In June, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that Boeing had failed to provide proper training, oversight, and guidance to prevent such incidents.

Investigators said Boeing’s production line missed installing four critical bolts on the 737 MAX 9, while also pointing to weak FAA oversight. Earlier this week, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told Reuters that the agency had not yet decided whether to lift the current cap on 737 MAX production, which has been limited to 38 aircraft per month since early 2024.

The FAA has also changed how it certifies aircraft. Instead of leaving much of the process to Boeing itself, the regulator now individually inspects each 737 MAX and 787 before issuing airworthiness certificates.

The proposed fine adds to the growing pressure on Boeing to fix its safety culture and production practices, which have been under intense global scrutiny since the Alaska Airlines incident.