Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun, alongside two other senior executives, announced his departure from the company. The announcement, made on Monday, has sent shockwaves through the aviation industry, highlighting ongoing safety concerns surrounding Boeing aircraft.
Calhoun, who has been on the company’s board since 2009 and became the non-executive chairman in 2019, will be leaving his position by the end of the year. Stan Deal, the CEO and president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, also retired, effective immediately.
The decision comes at a critical time for Boeing, as the company deals with widespread criticism and safety concerns about its aircraft from the general public. Earlier this year, a Boeing 737 Max plane experienced a shocking mid-flight incident where a door panel detached on an Alaska Airlines flight, prompting a wave of investigations into the company’s regulatory oversight and manufacturing processes.
The fallout from the Alaska Airlines incident has been substantial, with the FBI recently informing passengers aboard the affected flight that they may be victims of a potential crime. Investigators also found certain regulatory failures regarding the incident, as the door panel was found to be missing four bolts when installed.
In a letter addressed to Boeing staff, Calhoun emphasized the gravity of the situation, acknowledging the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 accident as a “watershed moment” for the company.
“We must continue to respond to this accident with humility and complete transparency. We also must inculcate a total commitment to safety and quality at every level of our company,” Calhoun wrote. “The eyes of the world are on us,” he added.
In the wake of his impending departure, Calhoun appeared in an interview on CNBC where he also acknowledged the company has a “bad habit” of prioritizing production over performance.
“When you move it down the line, it sends a message to your own people that ‘Wow, I guess the movement of the airplane is more important than the first time quality of the product.’ And we have got to get that in way more balanced. Without a doubt,” Calhoun explained.
This piece first appeared at TPUSA.
