Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN News’ top morning headlines from Friday, March 29, 2024.
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he’s looking into a company that supplies parts to Boeing, and part of his investigation includes whether its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) commitments factored into safety issues.
Paxton announced Thursday he sent a “request to examine” letter to Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc., which has a facility in Texas and makes the fuselages for the Boeing 737 Max. He said Texas law gives him the authority to request documents from the company, including information about manufacturing defects in its products.
Additionally, Paxton is asking Spirit AeroSystems for documents about DEI and “whether those commitments are unlawful or are compromising the company’s manufacturing processes,” according to a news release sent out Thursday.
In a statement, Paxton wrote, “The potential risks associated with certain airplane models are deeply concerning and potentially life-threatening to Texans. I will hold any company responsible if they fail to maintain the standards required by the law and will do everything in my power to ensure manufacturers take passenger safety seriously.”
Joe Buccino, a spokesperson for Spirit AeroSystems, responded Friday to Paxton’s announcement.
“While we do not comment on investigations, Spirit is wholly focused on providing the highest quality products to all our customers, to include the Boeing Company,” Buccino wrote.
Paxton’s office said Spirit has until April 17 to respond and provide the documents he’s requesting.
KXAN also reached out Friday morning to Boeing for comment and will update this story once any responses are shared.
Spirit AeroSystems as well as Boeing came under intense scrutiny after an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 had to make an emergency landing on Jan. 5 when a door plug blew out of the side of the plane shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon. In a preliminary report released in February, the NTSB said four bolts that help keep the door plug in place were missing.
Earlier this month, Boeing confirmed it’s in talks to buy Spirit AeroSystems again. It once owned Spirit and would like to reacquire it so that it could improve plane quality and safety. Spirit said in a statement confirming the talks that this does not mean, though, that a sale is a done deal.