Multiple airlines have grounded, and the Boeing 737 MAX 9 accident continues to escalate, posing a new crisis of trust for Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun.
On January 9th local time, Boeing held a safety meeting for all employees. CEO Carl Horn publicly admitted that the company had made a mistake and stated that he would work with regulatory agencies to ensure that such incidents "will never happen again.".
In a video posted on Boeing's official website, Calhoun stated, "We need to first address this issue and acknowledge our mistakes. We will handle every step in a 100%, completely transparent manner... to ensure that the next aircraft flying into the sky is safe." He also mentioned that Boeing is experiencing moments of anxiety with customers, "but we must face it.".
The latest information shows that the largest operators of the 737 MAX 9 aircraft, United Airlines (hereinafter referred to as "United Airlines") and Alaska Airlines, have both found problems during inspections.
Alaska Airlines announced on January 8th that its staff discovered some loose hardware that was visible to the naked eye during an inspection of the 737 MAX 9 fleet.
United Airlines stated that since the initial inspection began on January 6th, it has discovered issues related to the installation of door plugs, such as bolts that require additional tightening.
Boeing responded that it will continue to maintain close contact with customers and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the required inspections, and will update based on their feedback and requirements.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States is responsible for leading the investigation into the cabin door detachment incident. Its chairman, Jennifer Homendy, had previously stated that after preliminary inspections revealed loose or incorrect fasteners on multiple aircraft, the investigation is being expanded to investigate the manufacturing process of Boeing aircraft in greater depth.
Affected by this incident, the stock price of Boeing (BA. N) has fallen for two consecutive trading days this week, with a cumulative decline of 9.33% from January 8th to November 9th.
On January 9th, Boeing also announced its 2023 delivery orders, with a total delivery volume of 528 aircraft, an increase of 10% year-on-year. Among them, the 737 series still holds the absolute majority, with 396 units accounting for 75% of the total delivery volume, an increase of 9 units compared to 2022; The delivery of the 787 series has doubled, increasing from 31 units delivered in 2022 to 73 units.
From the perspective of new orders, Boeing's official website shows that it received a total of 371 aircraft orders in December 2023, including 301 orders for 737 MAX aircraft; Throughout 2023, Boeing received a total of 1456 aircraft orders, including 987 orders for the 737 MAX aircraft, setting a new historical high. This is the best result achieved by the 737 MAX since its resumption of commercial operations.
At the beginning of 2020, when Calhoun took office, it was during the grounded period of the 737 MAX 8. His first priority was for the 737 MAX 8 to go around. He also expressed his intention to strengthen Boeing's safety culture, improve transparency, and rebuild trust with customers, regulatory agencies, suppliers, and the public. "With the strength of our team, I have full confidence in the future of Boeing, including the 737 MAX."
Now, the commercial operation of the 737 MAX 8 has resumed, and the order volume of the 737 MAX series in 2023 has reached a new high. However, the chain reaction brought by the 737 MAX 9 accident to Boeing will still test Calhoun's courage and wisdom.