The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has restored Boeing Co.’s authority to issue airworthiness certificates for its 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner aircraft, a function that had been removed after the two fatal Max crashes in 2018 and 2019. Officials said the decision follows an eight‑month review during which production quality findings were similar whether Boeing or the FAA performed the certificate work, prompting the agency to conclude that it could safely hand the responsibility back to Boeing.
The FAA noted that it will resume the practice of Boeing signing off on airworthiness certificates for these models, while continuing to oversee the program to ensure compliance with safety standards. Boeing’s statement promised ongoing cooperation with FAA oversight to maintain the safety and quality of its commercial airplanes and to meet all airworthiness certification requirements.
The move is presented as a vote of confidence in Boeing’s updated safety and quality controls as the company navigates a period of scrutiny following past safety crises. The history of the program includes lessons learned from the crashes and, more recently, a security‑related incident in January 2024 involving a door plug on a new 737 Max 9, which kept regulators and industry observers attentive to manufacturing and safety practices.
In the near term, the certification process is expected to alternate between Boeing and the FAA as the parties share responsibility for issuing airworthiness documents, reflecting ongoing collaboration to balance efficiency with oversight. The decision underscores a broader effort by regulators to restore trust and maintain stability in aircraft production and export activity amid an evolving safety landscape.
