The U.S. government hit Boeing Co. with a proposed $3.9 million fine on Friday, saying the planemaker installed substandard parts on 133 aircraft and didn’t properly oversee its suppliers. The Federal Aviation Administration said the parts in question were installed on the wings of Boeing 737 jets to allow devices known as slats to move back and forth.
The civil penalty comes as the company has been embroiled in controversy over how it designed its 737 Max, which was involved in two fatal crashes that killed 346 people and has been grounded since March 13.
Friday’s proposed fines aren’t related to those accidents.
On Friday, the FAA alleged Boeing “knowingly” sought FAA certification of aircraft that had the faulty parts installed, after determining that the devices had failed a strength test.
