March 25 (Reuters) - Spirit AeroSystems ( SPR ) CEO

Patrick Shanahan's "sole priority remains building a culture of

safety" at Spirit, company spokesperson Joe Buccino said on

Monday, following suggestions that the longtime executive could

take the reins at Boeing ( BA )..

Boeing ( BA ) CEO Dave Calhoun, 66, will step down by year-end in a

broad management shakeup brought on by the U.S. planemaker's

sprawling safety crisis exacerbated by a January mid-air panel

blowout on a 737 MAX plane.