Fatal Cybertruck crash prompts safety check

Federal safety authorities say they are seeking information on a crash and fire involving a Tesla Cybertruck that killed a driver of the pickup in Texas.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday it is gathering information from Tesla. The agency did not send crash investigators, nor has it opened a formal investigation into the crash. It did not say if it is investigating the cause of the fire or whether the driver was using a partially automated driving system.

Messages were left Wednesday seeking comment from Tesla and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The death apparently is the first involving the angular stainless steel-clad truck, which went on sale Nov. 30.

KHOU-TV reported that state troopers are investigating the crash, which occurred in the Baytown area of Chambers County early Monday. The truck was heading down a parkway when it left the road for an unknown reason, hit a concrete culvert and went up in flames, the station reported.

The Cybertruck was recalled twice in June to fix problems with trim pieces that can come loose and front windshield wipers that can fail. It has been recalled four times since its introduction.

Boeing hearing to probe FAA oversight

A federal safety board planned on Wednesday to probe the Federal Aviation Administration’s oversight of Boeing and how it has changed since a door plug blew off a Boeing 737 Max in midflight.

The National Transportation Safety Board is holding a two-day hearing on the blowout during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

Door plugs are installed on some 737s to seal a cutout left for an extra exit that was not required on the Alaska jet. The plug on the Alaska plane was opened at a Boeing factory to let workers fix damaged rivets, but bolts that help secure the panel were not replaced when the plug was closed.

A Boeing official said Tuesday that the company is redesigning door plugs so they cannot be closed until they are properly secured.

On Wednesday, representatives from Boeing and key supplier Spirit AeroSystems described their “safety management systems,” which encourage employees to report safety concerns. Boeing officials praised their Speak Up program for reporting concerns about quality and safety.

However, the president of the machinists’ union local said Boeing often ignores safety concerns raised by the union until he lodges a complaint with federal regulators.

JPMorgan: CFPB may levy complaint in Zelle probe

JPMorgan Chase Co. said the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau may seek to punish the bank after an investigation into its handling of Zelle payments.

“The CFPB staff has informed the firm that it is authorized to pursue a resolution of the inquiries or file an enforcement action,” the New York-based lender said in a quarterly filing Friday. “The firm is evaluating next steps, including litigation.”

U.S. authorities have been digging into consumer complaints over how banks handle abuses on the Zelle network, which have become a hot political topic. Scams using a variety of peer-to-peer payment systems have prompted calls by regulators and lawmakers for financial firms to improve consumer protections and make victims whole.

Wells Fargo Co. said in May that it’s also responding to formal and informal U.S. inquiries into how it deals with customer disputes about Zelle transactions. Federal investigators haven’t publicly accused either bank of wrongdoing.

Compiled from Bloomberg and Associated Press reports.