Boeing, a prominent aircraft manufacturer, has faced a series of challenges throughout the year, impacting both its financial standing and reputation. In January, a fuselage panel incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 raised safety concerns, leading to the grounding of all 737 Max 9s in the U.S. by the Federal Aviation Administration. Subsequent investigations revealed issues with missing bolts and quality control procedures.
By February, a report highlighted problems in Boeing's safety culture, with workers reportedly hesitant to raise quality concerns. In March, further audits uncovered instances of quality standards not being met in 737 Max manufacturing. This led to a management shakeup, with Boeing's CEO announcing plans to step down by the year's end.
In April, Boeing compensated Alaska Airlines for the earlier incident, while the Senate held hearings on safety compromises in Boeing's manufacturing processes. The Justice Department accused Boeing of violating a settlement related to previous deadly crashes. In June, a NASA test flight faced delays, and Boeing's CEO apologized to crash victims' families before a Senate subcommittee.
July saw Boeing pleading guilty to conspiracy charges and appointing a new CEO amid financial losses. Safety concerns continued in August, with cockpit seat inspections mandated for Boeing 787 Dreamliners. NASA postponed the return of astronauts in Boeing's Starliner capsule due to safety risks.
In September, Boeing and its largest union reached an agreement on a new contract, offering pay raises to 33,000 assembly workers. However, worker dissatisfaction led to a vote on potential strike action. The outcome of the vote will determine the future labor relations at Boeing.
