Title: Boeing's history of safety problems started long before the 737 Max crashes - The Washington Post
Headings: Long before the Max disasters, Boeing had a history of failing to fix safety problems
Long before the Max disasters, Boeing had a history of failing to fix safety problems
'Failures of corrective action'
Boeing's responsiveness, oversight under scrutiny
Falsified certifications
A threat to a 'story of success'

Content: It was the first of two tragedies that led many to question the soundness of the Boeing aircraft and the company’s approach to safety. Story continues below advertisement
And it injected the largely overlooked government settlement with a new urgency — as a means of tracking company failures identified by the FAA, illuminating Boeing’s relationship with its regulators, and potentially forcing new safety improvements as investigators probe what was behind the two Max crashes. Advertisement
Among its commitments under the deal, Boeing agreed to greatly expand its use of an internal tool meant to help determine the root causes of its safety problems and make sure they get fixed and stay that way. In response to FAA findings that Boeing was often late or incomplete with its required safety submissions, the company also agreed in 2015 to take various remedial steps and be more responsive. Story continues below advertisement
But over the first 3½ years of the agreement, Boeing failed to meet some of its obligations, according to two people who requested anonymity to discuss details of the settlement. Boeing says it has taken major steps to comply. The FAA, meanwhile, last year chose not to invoke enforcement provisions that could have meant $12 million in additional penalties for the company. The agreement runs through Dec. 31, 2020, and there is the potential for more financial penalties if Boeing fails to meet the requirements. Advertisement
As investigations continue into Boeing and the FAA over the safety certification of the 737 Max and the two crashes that killed 346 people, regulators and others are scrutinizing whether there are echoes of the persistent problems that prompted the 2015 agreement. Story continues below advertisement
An FAA official said it is too early to establish a connection between the probes and specific concerns addressed in the settlement.