The crash of
An Air India trip to London
It marks the first deadly accident involving a Boeing 787 aircraft, delivering another setback to the company as it tries to recover from multiple safety and production issues.
The once-robust symbol of America has faced continuous challenges in recent times, resulting in significant financial losses amounting to billions due to aircraft grounding and manufacturing holdups. The company’s precarious comeback is now at risk following Thursday’s accident.
The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which had 242 individuals aboard, went down just under a minute after departing from an airport close to Ahmedabad in western India. According to local authorities, the accident resulted in the deaths of 241 passengers and crew members, with only one person surviving.
The exact cause of the accident remains unknown. Various elements, including pilot mistakes, lapses in maintenance, outside influences, as well as flaws in manufacturing and design, could have contributed to the incident.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg stated on Thursday that he had discussions with Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, and expressed that Boeing was prepared to assist the airline as needed.
“Our sincere sympathies are extended to the families of the passengers and crew aboard Air India Flight 171, along with all those impacted in Ahmedabad,” he stated in a written message.
Boeing’s stock dropped approximately 5% on Thursday.
The Air India disaster poses a significant challenge for Ortberg, who assumed leadership in August. Following an earlier prominent mishap at the start of the previous year—wherein a newly acquired 737 MAX experienced a blown-off fuselage panel mid-flight—the organization was just beginning to recover. This event resulted in the removal of Boeing’s former CEO and brought renewed attention to the corporation’s safety practices and manufacturing problems.
Last year, the corporation endured a costly strike by machinist workers which brought the manufacturing of most of its aircraft to a halt. Additionally, they faced challenges related to production issues and financial deficits within their defense sector. The firm also received criticism from President Trump due to delays in providing a new Air Force One, as well as scrutiny from NASA regarding the safety concerns associated with their Starliner spacecraft.
In 2024, the aircraft manufacturer reported a near $12 billion net loss, marking its most significant deficit since 2020. Despite posting a first-quarter financial shortfall this year, the firm consumed less cash than anticipated, with leaders asserting that they expect positive cash flow by year-end. The corporation maintains that their multi-billion dollar order backlog underscores the robustness of their operations.
Ortberg has previously mentioned that the company cannot withstand additional errors. Both his preceding leaders, Dave Calhoun and Dennis Muilenburg, left after they came under examination for how they managed aviation accidents and issues.
the company’s safety culture
.
Last week, the corporation reached an agreement with the Justice Department, agreeing to pay $1.1 billion as part of a settlement to sidestep charges related to the fatal 737 MAX accidents in 2018 and 2019.
The head of Boeing mentioned earlier this month that the manufacturing quality was getting better and customers were starting to regain their confidence in the company. Boeing has been working hard to eliminate production issues and increase output levels while still dealing with ongoing regulatory oversight.
We’re still in the early stages,” he stated at an investor conference last month. “However, we have a strategy, and we are moving forward according to our plan.
He mentioned that Boeing had recently gotten approval from U.S. aviation authorities to boost 787 production to seven planes per month, up from the previous rate of five. Following last year’s issue with the fuselage panel on an Alaska Airlines flight, the Federal Aviation Administration had previously restricted Boeing’s production levels.
The plane involved in the Air India accident was not freshly delivered. Air India received this particular aircraft in January 2014, and since then, it had completed nearly 8,000 takeoffs and landings, as stated by Cirium, an aviation-analysis company. This airplane belonged to one of the initial batches comprising several dozen Dreamliners manufactured.
The 787, referred to as the Dreamliner, stands out as Boeing’s top-selling wide-body airplane, having delivered nearly 1,200 units to clients so far. The corporation chose the moniker “Dreamliner” following a public contest which garnered around five hundred thousand votes from participants.
The jet has been
popular with airlines
Thanks to its predominantly carbon-composite structure, which contributed to lowering fuel expenses, along with enhancements inside the cabin like bigger overhead compartments and windows. The aircraft also boasted one of the most pristine safety records in commercial aviation, with no deadly incidents reported since its introduction in 2011.
Nevertheless, the 787 encountered several production challenges. It grappled with initial supply-chain problems followed by battery fires that prompted aviation safety regulators to take action.
to bring the 787 fleet back to the ground
For several months in 2013. More recently, Boeing has also had to halt production.
deliveries of the aircraft
for nearly two years due to issues with quality control.
Several whistleblowers have similarly voiced worries regarding the manufacturing of the 787, indicating that staff members involved with the aircraft were deterred from reporting issues or suggesting modifications to avoid potential problems.
Last year, amid various assertions, Boeing held a two-hour briefing for reporters defending the safety of the 787. During this session, engineers detailed extensive tests conducted over time to address structural issues within the aircraft and guarantee its security.
American investigators will now help Indian officials to ascertain the cause of the accident. The inquiry is expected to look into the setup of the plane’s steering mechanisms, the interaction between the crew and ground controllers along with their communication among themselves, besides reviewing service logs.
Central to the investigation will be the so-called black boxes that document flight information, capturing both the actions taken and not taken by the pilots using the aircraft’s controls, as well as any conversations and noises inside the cockpit.
Ortberg informed his staff that both he and Stephanie Pope, who leads Boeing’s commercial division, have decided against attending the forthcoming Paris Air Show, a crucial industry gathering set for next week. Additionally, he mentioned having communicated with Jennifer Homendy, chairman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board.
Safety forms the bedrock of our sector and is integral to all our activities,” he stated in a communication seen by The Wall Street Journal. “Our technical specialists are geared up to aid the investigators in grasping the situation, and a Boeing team is primed to head to India.
Jeff Guzzetti, who previously served as a top accident investigator for both the FAA and the NTSB, stated that the incident was quite baffling considering what he referred to as the Dreamliner’s “exceptionally pristine safety history.”
“It’s an amazing aircraft, highly cherished by the pilots who operate it, and comes equipped with numerous safety features,” Guzzetti stated.
Send your letter to Sharon Terlep.
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