Boeing’s recent blows came when its new 787 Dreamliner model crashed for the first time. This incident occurred just weeks after the company purportedly settled all this with a $1.1 billion agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. The settlement was intended to avoid criminal prosecution in connection with the two fatal crashes of the 737 Max model. Together these calamities resulted in the deaths of 346 people. The most recent case has once again brought the issue of safety related to Boeing’s planes back to public scrutiny.
The resulting settlement with the Justice Department ignited a furious national debate. In fact, family lawyers for the crash victims condemned it as “morally repugnant.” The agreement allowed Boeing to escape criminal prosecution for the two fatal crashes that brought down the 737 Max. Those tragic incidents, which took place in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019 respectively, were attributed to defects in Boeing’s aircraft.
On both the 737 and other issue, Boeing has reportedly escaped extensive investigation from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) relating to dangerous safety practices for years. One particularly alarming concern involved a mid-air dive on a Latam flight last year, which raised questions about the operational safety of Boeing aircraft. More than 1,100 787 Dreamliners have entered commercial service with leading international airlines. These safety concerns may have far-reaching consequences for the flying public.
The 737 Max model was grounded for nearly a year after the aforementioned crashes and subsequently relaunched, returning to widespread use. The recent crash of a new 787 model has sparked new calls for regulatory oversight. Last year, a whistleblower testified in Washington, convincing Boeing to ground all 787 Dreamliners. They put a spotlight on long-standing issues regarding the safety of these planes.
In the days after the recent crash, early flight tracking indicated that a Boeing aircraft departed without incident. It only made it 625 feet of altitude before the fatal accident. As with all such situations, the specific circumstances surrounding this incident continue to be investigated.
Boeing’s safety record has drawn attention, particularly given India’s aviation industry history, which has seen significant improvements amidst past challenges. Yet, as the airline sector grows larger and more complex, creating a culture of safety is more important than ever.
We are monitoring this developing situation closely and indeed know of preliminary reports — working to obtain further information. – A Boeing spokesperson