Boeing faces new scrutiny as US aviation agency opens safety review

Boeing's biggest supplier of aircraft components said Friday that it will temporarily furlough 700 workers later this month, warning that it would have to resort to layoffs if a strike by Boeing machinists lasts beyond November.

Spirit AeroSystems said Friday that starting Oct. 28, employees who build parts of Boeing 767s and 777s will be off the job for three weeks. A strike by about 33,000 Boeing workers in the Pacific Northwest that started Sept. 13 halted production of those planes and Boeing 737 Max jets.

Boeing is in the process of buying Spirit for $4.7 billion to reduce outsourcing and to have more control over its supply chain.

The furloughs at a key supplier were announced as Boeing faced a new review of its compliance with Federal Aviation Administration safety regulations.

The FAA said it will examine key safety processes at Boeing over the next three months to make sure that they "result in timely, accurate safety-related information for FAA use."