Airlines have been increasingly outsourcing repair and upkeep work to other countries, but experts and consumer groups disagree about its impact on safety.
Merle Meyers, who left Boeing last year after a 30-year career, said he was speaking publicly about his experience because he loved the company “fiercely.”
Problems have plagued the manufacturer even after two fatal crashes, and many current and former employees blame its focus on making planes more quickly.
The incident on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 plane is likely to increase Boeing’s costs and scrutiny of the manufacturer by regulators, airlines and travelers.