WASHINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - New Boeing CEO Kelly

Ortberg met earlier this week with the head of the Federal

Aviation Administration as the planemaker faces numerous

regulatory issues and increased scrutiny, an agency official

confirmed Friday.

Ortberg told employees Friday in an email he had met with

the FAA this week and discussed the company's safety and quality

plan. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker in February barred Boeing ( BA )

from boosting production of its best-selling 737 MAX after a

door panel blew out during a Jan. 5 flight on a new Alaska

Airlines jetliner.