Boeing safety hearing opens with apology from safety officials to passengers

Boeing (NYSE:BA) this week faces questions from safety authorities in hearings about a 737 Max jetliner that lost a metal panel shortly after takeoff in January, an incident that again damaged the aviation giant’s reputation.

“This was quite traumatic to the crew and passengers,” National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said as the hearing began Tuesday, addressing passengers or anyone who knew someone on the flight. “We are so sorry for all that you experienced during this very traumatic event.”

The NTSB’s two-day hearing began Tuesday morning amid expectations that it may uncover more details about the accident aboard an Alaska Airlines plane. After its metal panel blew out at 16,000 feet, pilots made an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon.

The NTSB said in a preliminary report that four bolts used to secure the panel in place weren’t replaced after a repair job at a Boeing (BA) factory outside of Seattle. The company has said the work wasn’t documented.

Safety board members are expected to interrogate Boeing (BA) officials about the missing documents, which may have helped to explain the cause of the accident.