In a room filled with families of crash victims, Boeing’s CEO was questioned by senators.
Dave Calhoun appeared before Congress for the first time since a door plug incident on a 737 Max 9 in January.
Facing relatives of two crashes involving Boeing 737 Max 8s in 2018 and 2019, Calhoun expressed his apologies.
“I apologize for the grief that we have caused,” he stated.
During the hearing, Calhoun took responsibility for the two crashes, admitting that design flaws in the MCAS system and shortcomings within Boeing contributed to the tragic incidents that claimed 346 lives.
Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut initiated the hearing, describing it as a “moment of reckoning” for a company that had “lost its way.”
“We learned that these tragedies resulted from deliberate decisions to prioritize production speed over safety and profits,” stated Blumenthal.
Calhoun defended Boeing’s efforts to rectify engineering flaws and prevent manufacturing failures like the door plug incident from reoccurring.
“While our culture isn’t perfect, we are taking decisive actions and making progress. We recognize the seriousness of the situation and are committed to transparency and accountability moving forward,” Calhoun assured.
Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri posed tough questions to Calhoun, questioning the justification for his $32.8 million salary.
“You are focused on cutting corners, compromising safety procedures, mistreating employees, and prioritizing profit over everything else,” accused Hawley.
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Prior to the hearing, a Senate report was released, containing allegations from a whistleblower concerned about Boeing’s use of unapproved parts and concealment from inspectors.
The whistleblower, Sam Mohawk, worked as a quality assurance investigator at the Renton, Washington 737 plant. Mohawk claimed that Boeing installed defective or improperly documented parts in planes, censoring information from the FAA.
Mohawk reported that his supervisors retaliated against him for unveiling this information.
In response to these claims, Boeing stated, “We are reviewing the document and encourage employees to report concerns to prioritize safety.”
During the hearing, Calhoun acknowledged instances of whistleblower retaliation, confirming that some individuals were terminated or disciplined as a result.
The Justice Department is assessing potential action against Boeing for breaching a settlement agreement following the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.
Prior to the hearing, families of crash victims spoke to the press.
“Justice, to me, means holding them accountable, pressing criminal charges, and facing trial. We want our day in court,” expressed Clariss Moore, whose daughter perished in the 2019 Ethiopian crash.
Prosecutors have until July 7 to determine their next steps.