NEW DELHI: Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun will step down from his post by the end of the year, as the aircraft maker sparked scrutiny after recent production problems, including a troubling incident in January involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet when a fuselage panel on it blew off mid-flight.
The plane made an emergency landing with a gaping hole in the cabin and no serious injuries were reported.
“As we begin this period of transition, I want to assure you, we will remain squarely focused on completing the work we have done together to return our company to stability after the extraordinary challenges of the past five years, with safety and quality at the forefront of everything that we do,” Calhoun wrote in a letter to employees.
“The Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 accident was a watershed moment for Boeing. 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,” he added.
Following the incident, US regulators issued a 90-day deadline for Boeing to address quality control issues, with the regulatory Federal Aviation Administration saying the company must “commit to real and profound improvements.”
The company has come under scrutiny following various concerning incidents, in addition to the recent Alaska incidents including an engine fire on a Boeing 747 shortly after departing from Florida in January.
Earlier this month, a Boeing 777 bound for Japan was forced to make an emergency landing from San Francisco after a wheel detached and fell into an airport parking lot, causing damage to several vehicles.
Last week New Zealand authorities launched an investigation after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner violently lost altitude mid-flight from Sydney to Auckland, injuring some passengers.
(With inputs from agencies)
The plane made an emergency landing with a gaping hole in the cabin and no serious injuries were reported.
“As we begin this period of transition, I want to assure you, we will remain squarely focused on completing the work we have done together to return our company to stability after the extraordinary challenges of the past five years, with safety and quality at the forefront of everything that we do,” Calhoun wrote in a letter to employees.
“The Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 accident was a watershed moment for Boeing. 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,” he added.
Following the incident, US regulators issued a 90-day deadline for Boeing to address quality control issues, with the regulatory Federal Aviation Administration saying the company must “commit to real and profound improvements.”
The company has come under scrutiny following various concerning incidents, in addition to the recent Alaska incidents including an engine fire on a Boeing 747 shortly after departing from Florida in January.
Earlier this month, a Boeing 777 bound for Japan was forced to make an emergency landing from San Francisco after a wheel detached and fell into an airport parking lot, causing damage to several vehicles.
Last week New Zealand authorities launched an investigation after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner violently lost altitude mid-flight from Sydney to Auckland, injuring some passengers.
(With inputs from agencies)
Source Agencies
