Boeing Co. Chief Executive, David Calhoun, addressed his employees in a meeting held at a 737 factory in Renton, Wash., following an incident where a 737 Max 9 jet flown by Alaska Airlines experienced a blown-off panel. Calhoun stressed the need for Boeing to acknowledge their mistake and handle the matter with complete transparency.
According to Calhoun, “We are going to approach this, No. 1, acknowledging our mistake.” He further added, “We’re going to approach it with 100% and complete transparency every step of the way.” The remarks were reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Calhoun acknowledged that incidents like this deeply affect airlines, stating, “They have confidence in all of us—they do—and they will again.” He expressed that such incidents shake airlines to their core, emphasizing how it personally shook him as well.
The cause of the incident aboard the flight is still under investigation. As a precautionary measure, the government has grounded 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 jets over the weekend. During regular trading hours, Boeing’s stocks finished 1.4% lower.
Boeing’s commitment to taking responsibility for their mistakes and prioritizing transparency is vital in regaining trust from both airlines and the general public.
