On Wednesday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that an impending partial shutdown of the government would necessitate a halt to its ongoing investigation into an incident involving a cabin panel blowout on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. This situation arises as Congress is up against a Friday night deadline to secure continued funding for certain government operations.
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Jennifer Homendy, the Chair of the NTSB, communicated through a letter that the MAX 9 planes are currently grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration. She emphasized that there is no immediate known threat to human life or property that would warrant the continuation of the investigation in the event of a partial government shutdown.
Homendy expressed concern that many investigations of national safety significance might not be initiated or completed due to the shutdown. This could potentially lead to a situation where crucial safety recommendations are not made. She further elaborated that other vital work such as providing assistance to victims' families, conducting safety studies, or carrying out advocacy efforts could be postponed or even canceled, depending on the duration and timing of the government shutdown.
Following a Senate Commerce briefing on the MAX 9, Homendy informed reporters that while the agency could dispatch investigators in response to new incidents, it would not be able to continue the MAX 9 investigation if a partial government shutdown were to occur. She added that the NTSB would be compelled to cease all investigations that are at the same stage as the MAX 9 investigation. In addition to these challenges, Homendy also highlighted that a full-year temporary funding bill would force the NTSB to implement a hiring freeze, reduce its current staffing levels, and put a stop to the modernization of its IT systems. This could potentially impact the agency's efficiency and effectiveness in carrying out its mandate.
