Boeing CEO Faces Senate Grilling Amid Ongoing Safety Concerns

Boeing's CEO, Dave Calhoun, faced a contentious Senate hearing on Tuesday, where he was questioned about the company's safety culture while family members of crash victims expressed their anguish and demanded accountability.

Mr. Calhoun testified that Boeing has "learned" from its past mistakes and assured lawmakers that the whistleblower process "works," despite accusations that the company has not done enough to address a culture of retaliation. The hearing follows a recent incident where a door panel fell off a new 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight in January, leaving a gaping hole.

In April, Boeing whistleblowers told the Senate about serious production issues with the 737 Max, the 787 Dreamliner, and the 777 models. Mr. Calhoun, who took over as CEO in 2020 and plans to step down later this year, attributed many of the problems to an "untrained workforce" caused by layoffs and turnover during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"So much of this is related to an untrained workforce. It's all about that, honestly," Calhoun stated.

Boeing faced severe criticism after two 737 Max crashes five years ago, which resulted in 346 fatalities. Family members of the victims attended the hearing, holding pictures of their loved ones. They also held a news conference before the hearing, demanding justice and criminal accountability for Boeing and its executives.

“I flew from England to Washington, DC, to hear in person what the Boeing CEO has to say to the Senate and to the world about any safety improvements made at that corporation,” said Zipporah Kuria, whose father was killed in the 2019 crash of a Boeing 737 MAX8 jet. “I also continue to press the US government to hold Boeing and its corporate executives criminally responsible for the deaths of 346 people. We will not rest until we see justice.”

Clariss Moore, whose daughter died in the 2019 Boeing crash in Ethiopia, emotionally confronted Mr. Calhoun, asking him about her daughter's final moments. "Did she call for me? Did someone hold her hands?" she demanded.

Senate committee chairman Richard Blumenthal opened the tense hearing by commending the families for their "strength and courage" and demanded answers on what Boeing is doing to end its "broken safety culture."

Mr. Calhoun claimed he listened to whistleblowers but admitted he had not spoken to any and was aware of retaliation incidents. "I know it happens," he said, without specifying how many employees faced repercussions for raising safety concerns.

During the hearing, Mr. Calhoun addressed the families directly, apologizing with a voice breaking with emotion. Boeing's chief engineer, Howard McKenzie, also testified, asserting that a "safety first" culture exists within Boeing's engineering team.

After the hearing, Senator Blumenthal expressed his dissatisfaction with Calhoun's answers and vowed to continue the investigation. "I have a lot more questions that need to be answered and we're going to be pursuing our investigation," he told BBC News.

In May, the US Justice Department informed Boeing of a criminal investigation into its practices, a development that many family members hope will result in criminal charges against the company.

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