“This created a dangerous plane”
This is the first time that Dave Calhoun has been publicly questioned by officials since the January 5 incident, when a 737 MAX 9, delivered in October to Alaska Airlines, lost a cap holder in flight – seal a redundant emergency exit. “It’s a manufacturing defect. It created a dangerous plane,” admitted Dave Calhoun.
According to the United States Transportation Safety Agency (NTSB), several fastening bolts had not been put back in place after an intervention on the assembly line. For many months, Boeing has been experiencing production and quality problems with its commercial aircraft (737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner and 777).
Promises that are just “empty shells”
“It is a culture that continues to prioritize profits, push the limits and ignore its employees,” denounced Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, chairman of the commission of inquiry. The promises made by Boeing after the crashes, which left 346 dead, were only “empty shells”. Speaking directly to Dave Calhoun, he blamed him for “eroding safety culture” for “taking care of (his) shareholders.”
The latter was appointed general manager at the start of 2020 – he had been a director since 2009 – to turn around the group. But production failures precipitated his retirement, by the end of 2024. Several audits and investigations have identified numerous “non-compliance” problems and deficiencies, particularly in quality control. This commission of inquiry has already heard, in mid-April, four whistleblowers. She published new elements reported by other whistleblowers on Tuesday. At the end of May, Boeing submitted a “comprehensive action plan”, required by the aviation regulator (FAA), to remedy these problems.
Threat of criminal prosecution
The stakes are high because the group is threatened with criminal charges in federal court in Texas. According to the US Department of Justice, Boeing “did not comply with its obligations” under a so-called deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) linked to these accidents, concluded on January 7, 2021 with a three-year surveillance period. .
Accused of fraud in the 737 MAX certification process, Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion and committed, among other things, to strengthening its compliance program. The aircraft manufacturer claims to have complied with the agreement. The ministry must decide, before July 7, whether to continue or not.
Richard Blumenthal, a former federal prosecutor, said Tuesday that there was “overwhelming evidence” to launch a prosecution. “There should be individual responsibility,” he added. “I strongly believe in the need for accountability,” commented Mr. Calhoun.
“If there is no risk of imprisonment for these leaders who play with our lives, then nothing will change,” Adnaan Sumo, who lost his sister in the crash of March 10, 2019, told AFP in Ethiopia. “Criminals should be in prison,” added Clariss Moore, mother of Danielle, 24. At their side was Nadia Milleron, who lost her daughter Samya Rose Stumo, 27 years old. Dave Calhoun “was closely involved in all of these decisions. Dave Calhoun is part of the problem,” she said, describing as “scandalous” the fact that he discarded several times by saying he only arrived in 2020.
