US aviation administrator to step down as agency deals with Boeing crisis

Mark Whitaker has led the agency's oversight of the embattled plane maker since a door panel blew off a 737 Max 9 jet in January

FAA administrator Mike Whitaker announced he will step down from the agency on January 20, 2025. AP

US Federal Aviation Administration Mike Whitaker, who has lead the agency's oversight of Boeing since a door panel blew off on one of its aircraft in January, on Thursday announced he will resign from the agency on January 20, 2025.

The timing of Mr Whitaker's departure – on US president-elect Donald Trump's inauguration day – will allow the president-elect to nominate a successor to run the aviation regulator. Mr Trump has not said who he intends to nominate to fill the position.

In a letter to employees, Mr Whitaker said the US remains the “safest and most complex airspace in the world” and that the agency's role remains critical.

“You have seen leadership come and go – and through every transition you have kept air travel steady and safe. This transition will be no different,” he wrote.

Whoever replaces Mr Whitaker will be joining the FAA at a critical time, as the agency has increased its oversight of Boeing after a door panel blew off a 737 Max 9 aircraft during an Alaska Airlines flight on January 5. The incident thrust the US plane maker into a new period of crisis. An audit conducted by the FAA in March found there to be “multiple instances” at Boeing and supplier SpiritAerosystems of not ensuring quality standards were met.

Mr Whitaker told politicians in June that the FAA's oversight of Boeing was “too hands-off” before the door-plug blowout, but vowed that the agency was “more active”.

The FAA has limited Boeing's monthly output of the 737 aircraft since the January 5 incident and has not said when that cap might be lifted.

In his letter, Mr Whitaker said “it has not been business as usual for Boeing”. In February, he directed Boeing to develop a new safety plan that was delivered in May. Some of the long-term actions Boeing is required to take include strengthening its safety management system, bolstering supplier oversight, simplifying procedures and clarifying work instructions, and increasing internal audits of Boeing's production.

Senior FAA leaders are also continuing to meet Boeing each week to review performance metrics.

“We have dramatically increased oversight, including more inspectors and closer scrutiny over production. We are also making sure the company implements a robust safety management system, which will be crucial to an enduring safety culture,” Mr Whitaker wrote.

He also announced that FAA deputy administrator Katie Thomson will step down on January 10. That would leave Mark House, assistant administrator for finance and management, as acting deputy administrator.