The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently removed Tesla Motors from the agency’s investigation into a fatal crash of a 2017 Model X near Mountain View, California, on March 23.
Tesla was removed because the company released investigative information before it was confirmed and vetted by the NTSB, a violation of the party agreement.
NTSB uses a party system for investigations, assembling a team of experts to solve complex transportation safety problems. Party members share investigative information with each other.
Tesla’s cooperation in the investigation is still required. The automaker was not removed as a party to two other NTSB investigations.
“It is unfortunate that Tesla, by its actions, did not abide by the party agreement,” NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said. “We decided to revoke Tesla’s party status and informed Mr. Musk in a phone call last evening and via letter today. While we understand the demand for information that parties face during an NTSB investigation, uncoordinated releases of incomplete information do not further transportation safety or serve the public interest.”
Revoking party status is rare. The last time it occurred was 2014 when both UPS and the Independent Pilots Association were removed from the investigation of a UPS Flight crash in Birmingham, Alabama.