Boeing's CEO said the company has to own up to 'our mistake' after its 737 Max door plug scandal
DAVID RYDER/Reuters
- Boeing has been under fire after part of a 737 Max's fuselage was blown off mid-flight on Friday.
- In response, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun admitted that the company would have to address its mistakes.
- The 737 Max is one of Boeing's best-selling aircraft. 171 of them were grounded by US authorities.
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun on Tuesday told employees that the company needs to admit its mistakes as the safety of its 737 Max comes under scrutiny.
"We're going to approach this number one acknowledging our mistake," Calhoun said at a 737 Max factory in Washington, according to multiple media outlets such as CNN and Bloomberg. "We're going to approach it with 100% and complete transparency every step of the way."
Bloomberg reported that Calhoun held back tears as he addressed Boeing's latest controversy.
At least 171 of its 737 Max aircraft have been grounded by US authorities after a fuselage section of a 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines was blown off mid-flight. The incident occurred just after takeoff on Friday as the plane left Portland, Oregon, on its way to California.
No one was killed or seriously injured during the Friday incident, but it's intensified skepticism toward the safety of the 737 Max. The plane model's quality was previously called into question after two 737 Max 8s crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing hundreds of passengers.
Calhoun called an all-hands meeting in response to the Friday scandal, where he said he took the danger of potential safety lapses to heart, per CNN.
He recalled seeing photos of the plane's breached fuselage, according to the outlet. The plane's hull, including a door plug, was torn away as the aircraft was at some 16,000 feet, exposing passengers to ferocious winds.
"I've got kids, I've got grandkids, and so do you. This stuff matters. Every detail matters," Calhoun said, per CNN.
Other concerns about the 737 Max have been raised since the Alaska Airlines incident on Friday.
United Airlines on Monday said it found loose bolts during inspections of its 737 Max fleet, telling Business Insider that these bolts were related to installation issues with a door plug.
Tim Clark, president of international carrier Emirates, also knocked Boeing in a Monday interview with Bloomberg, describing "quality control problems" at the manufacturer.
"I think they're getting their act together now, but this doesn't help," Clark said.
The 737 Max is Boeing's best-selling airline jet.