FAA Probes Alleged Boeing Pressure on Designated Inspectors (1)

U.S. aviation regulators have begun a formal investigation of Boeing Co. after company employees alleged they faced duress that threatened their independence while assessing aircraft designs on behalf of the government.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s compliance action, which focuses on a controversial program known as Organization Designation Authorization that grants planemakers authority to sign off on designs for the agency, is looking at whether workers faced “undue pressure,” according to recently released government documents.

The FAA has sent Boeing two letters of investigation, which can lead to enforcement actions including fines and other penalties, according to a little-noticed section ...