New York – Boeing’s year has ended in tragedy after a 737-800 operated by Korean discount carrier Jeju Air crashed, killing all 179 passengers and crew on board.
The investigation is still in its early stages and it’s too soon to determine the cause of the crash. However, there is no evidence to suggest that Boeing’s manufacturing was to blame.
The tragedy comes at the end of a year that has been marked by a string of problems for Boeing. The company’s stock price has plummeted by about a third, and its CEO was forced to resign following a series of embarrassing and horrifying events.
The latest incident is not Boeing’s fault, but it marks the end of a difficult year for the company. In January, a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines 737 Max just minutes after takeoff, causing clothing and phones to be ripped away from passengers. The investigation found that the plane was missing four bolts that were needed to hold the door plug in place.
The incident led to numerous federal investigations, including one by the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Justice Department. The FAA eventually delayed certification of two new versions of the 737 Max, and Boeing agreed to pay up to $487 million in fines for deceiving the FAA during the initial certification process.
Boeing also faced whistleblowers who testified about problems with the company’s quality and procedures, as well as pressure to prioritize production over safety. The company has since taken steps to improve quality and safety, and to encourage employees to come forward with concerns.
The company’s struggles continued in the summer with the launch of its Starliner spacecraft, which was meant to carry NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. However, the mission was aborted after just a few days when officials determined that the spacecraft was not safe for return.
Boeing’s year also saw a strike by 33,000 union members, which halted production of the 737 Max and its freighter aircraft. The strike cost the company and its suppliers over $11.5 billion and led to Boeing’s announcement that it would cut 10% of its global workforce.
In October, Boeing reported a core operating loss of $6 billion, its worst financial quarter in years. The company has lost $39.3 billion since 2019, when the 737 Max was grounded following a fatal crash. Its credit rating is on the verge of being downgraded to junk bond status.
The company’s year ended in tragedy with the crash of the Jeju Air plane, which appears to have had a bird strike and a landing gear failure, leading to a distress call from the pilots as they approached the airport in Muan, South Korea. The 737-800, which has a strong safety record, is unlikely to have had problems caused by a design flaw or production problems attributed to Boeing.