28. From Glory to Turmoil: The Downfall of Boeing with Kathryn Creedy

 

The Boiling Crisis at Boeing: Unpacking Five Years of Turbulence   In this episode, Kathryn and Estee dive into the ongoing crises and challenges confronting Boeing and the airline aviation industry. From crashes, the tragic suicide of a whistleblower to damning congressional hearings, Kathryn, an expert journalist with extensive industry experience, provides a detailed timeline and analysis of the pivotal events since January 2024. The conversation explores multiple Boeing aircraft incidents, including doors flying off mid-flight and wheels falling off upon takeoff, and scrutinizes the cultural and management issues that have plagued Boeing for years, emphasizing the shift from engineering excellence to profit obsession. Kathryn highlights the importance of public pressure on Boeing to enact meaningful changes, advocates for a complete overhaul of Boeing’s management, and urges passengers to vocalize their concerns to legislators and consumer organization.  

Bio: Kathryn B. Creedy is a veteran aviation journalist and author who has covered every facet of commercial and business aviation.  Kathryn has written for Forbes Online and is the author of Time Flies – The History of SkyWest Airlines. Her byline has appeared in Smithsonian’s Air & Space Magazine and top aviation publications such as Air Transport World, Aviation Week and Space Technology, Flightglobal, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation and Airline Business. In addition, she has written for BBC Capital, CNN Travel, The Los Angeles Times, AFAR.com. 

• Series of incidents:
  • Door flies off Alaska Airlines 737 Max (January 2024)
  • Wheel falls off United Airlines aircraft (March 2024)
  • Whistleblower John Barnett dies by suicide (March 2024)
  • Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun announces retirement (March 2024)
• Concerns:
  • Potential for more technical issues with Boeing aircraft
  • Shift in Boeing's culture from safety-first to profit-driven
  • Lack of transparency from Boeing regarding safety concerns
  • Effectiveness of FAA oversight
• Historical Context:
  • 1997 Merger of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas - potential cultural clash
  • 2003 FAA recommendation on 787 Dreamliner battery casing ignored by Boeing (later implemented after incidents)
  • 2018 & 2019 Lion Air & Ethiopian Airlines crashes involving 737 Max - questionable design choices and lack of pilot training on new system (MCAS)
  • Blaming the victims (pilots) for the 737 Max crashes
• Current Investigations:
  • Department of Justice (DOJ) considering criminal charges against Boeing for the 737 Max crashes
  • FAA investigating Boeing's manufacturing practices
  • Congressional hearings examining Boeing's safety culture
• Uncertain Future:
  • Impact of investigations on Boeing's leadership and practices
  • Need for stronger FAA oversight and passenger confidence