Summary
- Safety concerns at Boeing has led to a massive leadership shakeup, with former American Airlines CEO Robert Crandall expressing worry.
- Crandall praises Boeing’s responsiveness during his tenure but highlights current worries over safety and reliability at the manufacturer.
- Recent safety incidents and findings raise concerns over Boeing’s competence and transparency, prompting a deeper investigation.
In an interview with Bloomberg, former American Airlines CEO Robert Crandall stated that everyone is worried about Boeing, referencing recent troubles with the manufacturer and a massive leadership shakeup.
“Everyone is worried”
Robert Crandall served as American Airlines’ President and CEO and was with the airline for 25 years. Crandall is regarded by many as a legend in the aviation industry, known for launching the first frequent flyer program and revolutionizing the hub and spoke method for airline networks. Recently, Crandall has made several TV appearances, offering insight into the situation that Boeing is facing.
Yesterday, Boeing announced that its CEO and the CEO of Commercial Airplanes were leaving the company in 2024. This was a major shakeup in leadership at the manufacturer but one that was expected by many following recent events. Earlier today, Bloomberg Surveillance released a video interview with Crandall, in which he stated that everyone is worried about Boeing.
The first question asked of Crandall is what he thinks changed in the last decade at Boeing, a question he did not have an answer to. Further, Crandall said that he believes David Calhoun, Boeing’s CEO, also wishes he had an answer to the same question. Crandall had nothing but praise for Boeing during his tenure at American Airlines, saying,
“And in every case where we had any kind of a disagreement or problem, they stepped up and were very responsive. My experience with Boeing has been that its a great company.”
Crandall then says that everyone in America is worried about Boeing, citing the meeting between major airline CEOs and the board of directors at Boeing. The meeting, Crandall said, shows how seriously the American carriers see the problem. Safety and reliability are two of the most crucial things to consider when purchasing aircraft, and Crandall highlighted that American aviation has been extremely safe.
“Without an absolute reputation of safety and consistency, you simply can’t compete. And that’s why everyody is worried about Boeing. We’ve got to get Boeing back to a point where it produces an impeccable product.”
Why the concern?
Boeing has struggled with quality and safety for several years, and 2024 did not start well for the manufacturer. In January, a Boeing 737 MAX 9 operated by Alaska Airlines had an exit door plug blowout midflight, causing rapid depressurization and forcing a diversion. Following the incident, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched an investigation into the incident and found several alarming things since then.
Breaking: Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 Diverts Due To Sudden Loss Of Emergency Exit Door
The sudden loss of the deactivated exit door led to rapid decompression and forced a diversion.
First, it was discovered that pilots did not know that the cockpit door would be opened automatically in the event of depressurization. This was not disclosed in the flight manuals and was not the first time Boeing omitted information from pilots training to fly the MAX aircraft. It was later revealed that the door plug blew out because of missing bolts after work was performed on the plane. As the investigation has taken its course, Boeing has not been able to identify the exact people who worked on the aircraft before the incident, hindering the investigation and raising questions over Boeing’s competence.
NTSB Says Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 Door Plug Work Footage Was Overwritten
The security camera footage of the repair work being completed last September is no longer available for review.
