'Can Never Happen Again': Boeing CEO Admits Mistake After Mid-Air Blowout

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said that the company made a mistake and said it would make sure it wouldn't happen again. This is the first time since the 737 MAX 9 plane blowout on Friday.

Alaska Airlines and United Airlines reported discovering loose components on several grounded aircraft during initial inspections. 

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Following the mid-air fuselage blowout on an Alaska Airlines jetliner, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun acknowledged the company’s mistake and said its staff would work with regulators to make sure it "can never happen again”. Boeing publicly admitted fault for the first time since the incident on Friday.

On Monday, both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines reported discovering loose components on several grounded aircraft during initial inspections. 

During a different meeting, Boeing informed its employees that the discovery of loose bolts in aircraft was categorised as a "quality control matter” and mentioned inspections are underway at Boeing and their supplier, Spirit Aerosystems. Boeing has instructed its own facilities and those of its suppliers to rectify such issues and conduct comprehensive inspections of their systems and procedures.

“We’re going to approach this, number one, acknowledging our mistake," Calhoun told employees, according to an excerpt released by Boeing, as per Reuters. "We’re going to approach it with 100% and complete transparency every step of the way."

Calhoun also told Boeing employees the company will "ensure every next airplane that moves into the sky is in fact safe”. He commended the Alaska Airlines crew for their swift action in safely landing the 737 MAX 9 plane, resulting in only minor injuries to the 171 passengers and six crew members.

Boeing has faced several production challenges since the complete grounding of the 737 MAX family in March 2019, which persisted for 20 months after two crashes in 2018 and 2019 resulted in the loss of nearly 350 lives. Calhoun was one of Boeing's board during the global grounding of all MAX jets in 2019. He acknowledged the difficulty of grounding planes, especially an entire fleet, stating he was aware of the challenges involved. 

Monday’s findings raised fresh concerns about the manufacturing process and the approval protocols concerning Boeing's highly popular jet family. The airlines have not yet started official inspections of their grounded aircraft. Boeing was still working out inspection guidelines to ensure safety lapses are fixed, as per Reuters.

On Tuesday, the FAA announced that Boeing was in the process of revising its guidelines for inspections and maintenance, pending approval from the FAA before checks commence on the 171 grounded planes. The FAA emphasised it would conduct a comprehensive evaluation, prioritising public safety, and stated that the timeline for the MAX's return to service would be determined accordingly.

Boeing shares fell 1.4 per cent Tuesday as United cancelled 225 daily flights, or 8 per cent of its total, while Alaska cancelled 109, or 18 per cent. Similar cancellations were expected on Wednesday.