[co-author: Stephanie Kozol]*
Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton has announced an investigation into Boeing supplier, Spirit Aerosystems, for alleged manufacturing defects, which are believed to have caused various “concerning incidents, some of which occurred in-air.”
Spirit Aerosystems is a manufacturer of fuselages for certain models of the Boeing 737 aircraft. An incident in January, where a door plug detached from a Boeing 737 Max 9 plane mid-flight, leaving a hole in the fuselage, led to a Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) investigation about quality control. The Texas investigation was initiated with a “Request to Examine” — asking Spirit Aerosystems to turn over documents produced from January 1, 2022 to the present, pertaining to communications with investors and Boeing, regarding certain parts and the company’s corrective actions.
Why It Matters
Given the inquiry, companies should educate employees about the use of internal communications platforms and email. Internal communications and documentation are often the first targets of an investigation. Regulators seek to obtain every identifiable transmittal. Due to the sensitive nature of some internal communications and documentation, companies should ensure that they include legal counsel on transmittals involving legal advice, preparation for formal engagement with a regulator, and on developing issues requiring legal advice.
*Senior Government Relations Manager
