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Boeing CEO Emphasizes Safety Over Speed Amid Ongoing Scrutiny
Commitment to Safety Over Speed
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg stated that the company is prioritizing safety improvements rather than pressuring workers to accelerate production following a mid-air 737 MAX 9 emergency in early 2024.
“I’m not pressuring the team to go fast. I’m pressuring the team to do it right,” Ortberg said during a U.S. Senate Commerce Committee hearing. While hopeful that production of 38 Boeing 737 MAX planes per month could resume later this year, Ortberg did not commit to a specific date.
Response to Quality and Safety Concerns
Following the January 2024 mid-air incident involving a missing panel on a new MAX 9 aircraft, concerns over Boeing’s quality and safety culture have intensified. Lawmakers are questioning regulatory oversight and Boeing’s internal procedures.
“We’ve made drastic changes to our internal process to ensure that this will never happen again,” Ortberg stated.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a production cap of 38 MAX planes per month after the incident. Boeing is still awaiting FAA approval for two new versions of the MAX.
Lawmakers Call for Stronger Oversight
Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz criticized Boeing’s past practices, saying, “Insufficient oversight of third-party suppliers and a lack of sufficient internal auditing procedures created an unsustainable, lack of safety culture at Boeing.”
Ortberg acknowledged the company’s “serious missteps” in recent years but emphasized that Boeing has made “sweeping changes.”
Additional Challenges Facing Boeing
Ortberg is also expected to face questions on other issues, including:
- Delays in the Air Force One delivery schedule.
- The impact of tariffs on production and sales.
- The status of Boeing’s criminal case related to the 737 MAX.
Boeing’s Legal and Regulatory Troubles
Boeing remains under scrutiny following its previous legal issues regarding the 737 MAX. In July of last year, the company agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge and pay at least $243.6 million after breaching a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement.
A U.S. judge recently set a June 23 trial date in the case after reports suggested Boeing was considering withdrawing from its plea agreement.
Rebuilding Trust and Industry Outlook
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has stated that Boeing must undergo strict oversight after recent safety incidents and past fatal crashes. The former head of the FAA warned that changing Boeing’s safety culture could take years.
Ortberg, who took over as CEO in August, replaced Dave Calhoun, who resigned after the January mid-air emergency. The challenge ahead for Boeing will be regaining the trust of both regulators and the public while ensuring its planes meet the highest safety standards.
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