Boeing CEO admits mistakes after 737 MAX 9 fuselage rupture

On January 9, CEO of Boeing (USA) aircraft manufacturing corporation Dave Calhoun spoke out about the explosion of the control panel on the fuselage of Alaska Airlines' Boeing 737 MAX 9 passenger plane last week.

According to Reuters, Mr. Calhoun admitted that the aircraft manufacturer had made a mistake and pledged to work with regulators to ensure it "can never happen again."

The statement is Boeing's first public admission of error since the January 5 incident that left a hole in the fuselage of a Boeing 737 MAX 9.

CEO Boeing lần đầu lên tiếng về sự cố bung thân máy bay Boeing 737 MAX 9- Ảnh 1. — Mr. Dave Calhoun speaks at the factory in Everett (Washington state, USA) in January 2023.

Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, two US airlines that operate the aircraft, later found loose parts on similar planes, raising concerns that such an incident could happen again.

In a private meeting, Boeing executives told employees that the discovery of loose bolts on the plane was being treated as a “quality control issue.” Inspections are being conducted at Boeing and its supplier Spirit Aerosystems (USA).

Boeing has asked factories and suppliers to ensure such issues are addressed, and has conducted broader checks on systems and processes, according to people familiar with the matter.

Mr Calhoun also told Boeing employees that the company would “ensure that every next plane that takes to the skies is truly safe”.

He praised the Alaska Airlines crew for quickly landing the 737 MAX 9 and keeping everyone on board safe.

According to Bloomberg, Boeing has encountered many production problems since the 737 MAX series was suspended for 20 months, starting in March 2019. The decision was issued after several accidents in 2018 and 2019 that killed nearly 350 people.

Reuters cited data and industry sources as saying that Boeing has met its delivery target for 2023. However, Boeing still ranked behind rival Airbus (France) for the fifth consecutive year.

Boeing delivered 528 jets, while Airbus will announce 735 deliveries for 2023 later this week, sources said. Boeing booked 1,314 new orders, up 70%. However, the company faces a tough production schedule.

Boeing had previously tried to speed up the testing process to get certification for its products. However, after the incident on January 5, this process will be more difficult.

The head of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Mike Whitaker will testify before Congress next month and may face questions about the approval of the 737 MAX aircraft, according to sources.

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