Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Thursday that he was opening an investigation into a company that supplies parts for Boeing airplanes, citing an increase in safety concerns.
The attorney general will investigate Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc., which is “one of the world’s largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial airplanes, defense platforms, and business/regional jets,” according to the company’s website.
The Texas Business Organizations Code allows the attorney general to investigate businesses by examining necessary documents, which Paxton has requested from Spirit AeroSystems, according to a press release from the Office of the Attorney General.
This investigation will also look at Spirit AeroSystem’s policies regarding “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and whether such policies impact the quality of work being performed by the company.
Paxton said in the press release that he has chosen to open the investigation due to concerns about the safety of passengers flying in planes with parts provided by Spirit AeroSystems.
“The potential risks associated with certain airplane models are deeply concerning and potentially life-threatening to Texans,” said the attorney general.
“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,” Paxton added.
The investigation comes as multiple issues with Boeing airplanes have been reported in recent months, including a cracked windshield, a door hatch falling off mid-flight, and a wing falling apart in the air, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
These concerns prompted Dave Calhoun, Boeing’s president and CEO, to step down from his role. In a letter, he told his employees that he knew Boeing would “come through this moment as a better company.”
“We will remain squarely focused on completing the work we have done together to return our company to stability after the extraordinary challenges of the past five years with safety and quality at the forefront of everything that we do,” he added, reported DX.