Boeing overhauls bonus scheme in wake of safety scandals, with 60% of annual amount now tied to safety and quality, more than double previous figure of 25%

Boeing has overhauled its bonus scheme to emphasize safety safety above meeting profit targets in the wake of the Alaska Airlines door plug scandal. 

After a door plug blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight in January Boeing has been under pressure by the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) and its investors to appear to be addressing serious quality and safety concerns.

In the company's  commercial unit safety and quality metrics will now account for 60 percent of annual bonuses, up from 25 percent. 

Previously, financial incentives comprised 75 percent of the annual award.

Now the dominant metrics determining a bonus will be employee safety, work done out of sequence on the assembly line and work required to fix problems, according to an internal memo seen by the Wall Street Journal. 

Boeing has overhauled its bonus scheme to emphasize safety safety above meeting profit targets, including for CEO Dave Calhoun (pictured) 

In January, an Alaska Airlines flight suffered a near-catastrophe as a plane door blew out at 16,000ft over Portland 

There were no serious injuries from the terrifying air failure, but passenger's belongings including phones flew out of the aircraft

In Boeing's other two units, defense and services, financial metrics will still dominate, determining 75 percent of bonus awards. 

However, quality and safety will be the only factors to determine the operational scores.

CEO Dave Calhoun and other executives bonuses will be based on an average of all three units scores. 

'It's very, very important to drive the outcomes that we're all committed to, and that's to deliver a safe and quality product to our customer,' Boeing operating chief Stephanie Pope told staff in an employee webcast earlier this week.

It comes as a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by United Airlines veered off the runway after landing in Houston early Friday in the latest near-miss involving the embattled airliner.

The aircraft, which arrived from Memphis, is said to have suffered some form of gear collapse as it exited the runway at George Bush Airport, although the 160 passengers and six crew were not injured.

Shocking footage showed the plane lying flat on its wings on grass by the side of the runway, while passengers were hurried off from an emergency gate ladder.

Boeing told DailyMail.com in a statement on Friday: 'We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide any support needed to United Airlines and the investigators.' 

A Boeing 737 Max operated by United Airlines veered off the tarmac into the grass when exiting the runway at George Bush Airport in Houston early Friday

Shocking footage showed the plane laying flat on its wings off the side off a runway, after suffering an apparent gear collapse 

Passengers were seen being evacuated from the aircraft from an emergency gate ladder  

It is the latest in a string of disastrous failings involving Boeing aircraft in recent days, including a 737 engine that caught fire mid-flight on Monday and a wheel falling off shortly after takeoff in San Francisco on Thursday.

The FAA says it is launching a full investigation of the latest disaster, which is still ongoing at the time of writing as United says it will move the aircraft as soon as it is able. 

In a statement, Houston Airports said: 'Around 8am today, a United Airlines flight landed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). As it was exiting the runway, the aircraft left the pavement and entered the grass along Runway 9-27.'

'Fortunately, no one on board was injured. The Houston Fire Department and Houston Airports Operations immediately responded and safely evacuated all passengers.

'Per federal regulation, the FAA has been notified. United Airlines is working to remove the plane, which is not impacting flight operations. Flights in and out of lAH continue without interruption.'

Boeing has seen billions dropped from its market capitalization in the wake of the repeat issues, as the FAA and NTSB launch investigations into its fleet of 737's.

Last month, the FAA formally mandated inspections in Boeing 737 Max airplanes for loose bolts in the rudder control systems after the plane maker recommended them in December.