Just over five years ago, 346 people were killed in two plane crashes that happened five months apart in Indonesia and Ethiopia. Each were Boeing 737 Max 8 planes.
Then in January 2024, a near catastrophe occurred when a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 plane at 16,000 feet, shortly after it took off from Portland, Oregon. A preliminary report from U.S. accident investigators said the door panel that flew off the Max 9 was missing 4 key bolts.
The Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into the Alaska Airlines incident, and the Federal Aviation Administration said it found quality control problems in its audit of Boeing and fuselage maker Spirit AeroSystem‘s 737 Max production process. The FAA has said it won’t let Boeing expand production until it’s satisfied with its quality control.
Boeing announced major management changes within the wake of the door plug accident, which has further slowed deliveries of recent jets and sparked criticism from the bosses of a few of Boeing’s top airline customers.
Dave Calhoun, who became CEO in early 2020 to get the corporate out of the Max crisis after the 2 deadly crashes, late last month said that he’ll step down at the tip of 2024. Boeing also replaced its chairman and the pinnacle of its all-important business airplane unit.
CNBC explores how Boeing’s 737 Max crisis unfolded and what the longer term holds for Boeing’s best-selling jet.
Watch the video to learn more.
