The NTSB says Boeing had "blatantly violated" the agency's investigative regulations by providing "non-public investigative information to the media" and speculating about possible causes of January 5 Alaska Airlines door plug blow-out.

The move by Boeing has further deepened the strain between the crisis-hit plane maker and government agencies at a time when it is trying to avoid criminal charges being brought by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) ahead of July 7 deadline.

--Reuters--