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By Marni Rose McFall
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Boeing CEO David Calhoun is set to testify before Congress today amid intense scrutiny of the company following a series of incidents involving their aircraft and allegations from whistleblowers.
Calhoun, who has led Boeing since January 2020 and will step down at the end of this year, faces some tough questions amid mounting concern regarding the safety and manufacturing of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and 737 Max aircraft.
The chairman of the Senate investigations subcommittee, Senator Richard Blumenthal, recently told Politico that Calhoun's testimony will serve as "a necessary step in meaningfully addressing Boeing's failures, regaining public trust and restoring the company's central role in the American economy and national defense."
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A spokesperson for Boeing told Newsweek that: "We welcome the opportunity to appear before the Subcommittee to share the actions we have taken, and will continue to take, to strengthen safety and quality and ensure that commercial air travel remains the safest form of transportation. We are committed to fostering a culture of accountability and transparency while upholding the highest standards of safety and quality."
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Since 2018, Boeing has suffered a series of problems with its planes. This includes the two fatal crashes of the 737 Max in 2018 and again in 2019, which killed 346 people. There has been a series of incidents this year already: in January an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 had to make an emergency landing after a door plug blew out, while in March a United Airlines Boeing 777-200 had to make an emergency landing after a tire fell off the plane and a LATAM Airlines Boeing 787-9 experienced a severe technical failure resulting in injuries to 50 passengers.
In May, a Boeing 777 jet carrying 211 passengers hit extreme turbulence and the plane experienced a sudden mid-air drop, plunging thousands of feet. Dozens were injured and one passenger died.
This week an investigation began to determine the cause after a Boeing aircraft in New Zealand had to make an emergency landing after flames were seen shortly after take off.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are conducting separate investigations into Boeing.
Five questions for David Calhoun
What has Boeing done to improve the safety and reliability of its aircraft?
There are a number of concerns about Boeing's safety measures and processes, which were heightened by allegations from John Barnett, a Boeing whistleblower. He claimed that the company was cutting corners to build planes and that he raised these claims but was ignored.
Barnett claimed that employees at Boeing's South Carolina plant were frequently fitting substandard parts on planes and also says he flagged faulty systems that could result in oxygen masks not working properly.
Calhoun will need to explain what measures are now in place to maintain standards of quality control across all of Boeing's manufacturing plants.
The CEO has previously defended the company's approach to safety. "Our culture is far from perfect, but we are taking action and making progress. We are taking comprehensive action today to strengthen safety and quality," according to a report from The Independent.
What has Boeing done to support affected passengers and their families?
There have been calls for executive compensation to be linked to safety performance and regulatory compliance outcomes and lawmakers will want to hear Calhoun's response. So too will families of the people who died in the Boeing Max crash in Ethiopia, who are planning to attend the hearing on Capitol Hill.
They have repeatedly pressed the Justice Department to prosecute Boeing. According to an Independent report, Zipporah Kuria, who lost her father in the crash, has said that the U.S. government should "hold Boeing and its corporate executives criminally responsible for the deaths of 346 people."
How is Boeing managing supply chain disruptions?
Boeing is not the only company facing supply chain disruptions post-pandemic and the committee will seek to understand what strategies are in place to mitigate future risks. However, rivals such as Airbus have seen production levels improving beyond levels seen by Boeing.
How does Boeing ensure compliance with global aviation regulations?
Last month, the Justice Department determined that Boeing had violated a 2021 settlement that shielded the company from prosecution for fraud after allegedly misleading regulators who approved the 737 Max. A top department official said that Boeing had failed to make necessary changes to both prevent and detect future violations of anti-fraud law.
Prosecutors have until July 7 to decide what they shall do next.
Does Boeing have the right leadership?
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun, Boeing chairman Larry Kellner and the head of the commercial airplane unit are leaving the company. Why are these steps necessary, and what else needs to happen at Boeing to restore trust in the company?
Calhoun will need to assure Congress that its leaders have a plan to address ongoing production and safety practices while restoring confidence in the company's management practices.
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