Aviation expert Peter Rehm discussed reports on the Evening Edit that an Alaska Airlines jet was missing several bolts when it left a Boeing factory.
Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun said Wednesday that the company is working to restore confidence after a door plug panel flew off one of its 737 Max 9 planes during a flight earlier this month. During the interview, he admitted, “I have a lot to prove.”
In a letter to employees released along with the company’s 2023 year-end results, Calhoun said he remains focused on the incidents that occurred on Alaska Airlines flights and how Boeing can strengthen quality control. Ta.
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun leaves a meeting with Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, at the Hart Building on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. Calhoun was meeting with senators about recent safety issues, including the grounding of 737s. Maximum of 9 aircraft. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via / Getty Images)
“Over the past few weeks, I have spoken with many of you and engaged in rigorous and direct dialogue with customers, regulators, and members of Congress,” Calhoun wrote. “They are disappointed and we have a lot to prove to gain the trust of our stakeholders. There are no messages or slogans for that. We need transparency and proven action. It starts with each of us listening to each other and speaking up. ”
He added: “While we have taken significant steps over the past few years to strengthen our safety and quality processes, this incident makes it clear that we still have work to do. It happened,” he added.
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Boeing has been under constant scrutiny since a Jan. 5 accident in which the passenger door was blown off while the plane was flying at an altitude of 16,000 feet. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded all 737 Max 9s with plug doors to conduct a detailed inspection.
Boeing Regional Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, April 29, 2020. (Olivier Driery/via AFP/Getty Images)
The ban has since been lifted, but the FAA has barred Boeing from increasing production of the 737 Max 9, and regulators have increased scrutiny of the manufacturer.
“We will be better off with more oversight, whether from ourselves, regulators or others,” Calhoun wrote in a memo to employees.
Alaska Airlines planes may have left Boeing factory without bolts to secure door plugs: Report
As expected, Calhoun did not provide financial or delivery forecasts for 2024, saying the company needs to focus on delivering high-quality aircraft.
| ticker | safety | last | change | change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA | boeing company | 211.03 | +10.61 | +5.29% |
For the fourth quarter, Boeing reported an adjusted loss of 47 cents per share, compared with an adjusted loss of $1.75 a year ago. Sales increased 10% to $22 billion.
Quarterly free cash flow decreased from $3.13 billion to $2.95 billion. The company’s struggling defense business also posted a $139 million loss on fixed-price development programs.
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Boeing did not provide an update on its 2025-26 cash flow and maximum production forecasts in its earnings call, as doubts remain in the industry about whether the aircraft maker will be able to meet these targets after the FAA’s unprecedented decision. Ta.
Reuters contributed to this report.
