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FAA Launches Employee Whistleblower Program for Aviation Safety

The agency came under fire for its handling of the Boeing 737 Max.

The Federal Aviation Administration on Monday announced a new program for its employees to confidentially report safety concerns.

The Voluntary Safety Reporting Program allows engineers, inspectors and other personnel to submit complaints without fear of punitive action.

FAA officials said information shared through the program would be used to verify concerns, identify a root cause and correct any problems.

The agency said existing reporting programs contributed to a 94% drop in the risk of a fatal accident since 1998.

But the announcement comes after the FAA came under fire for its handling of the Boeing 737 Max.

Federal auditors said earlier this year that the agency must improve its process for certifying new planes.

The FAA says about 7,400 people comprise its aviation safety workforce.

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