Chief Executive Kelly Ortberg assured U.S. lawmakers Wednesday that the aerospace giant is prioritizing safety over production speed as it works to recover from a series of high-profile incidents, including a mid-air emergency involving a 737 Max 9 aircraft in early 2024.

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg will face tough questions on the planemaker's recent safety issues and other hot-button topics on Wednesday when he appears before the Senate Commerce Committee. Lawmakers have been scrutinizing the company since a January 2024 mid-air emergency involving a new 737 MAX 9 that was missing four key bolts raised fresh questions about Boeing's quality and safety culture,