Boeing’s current standing in the industry isn’t favorable. Recent years have posed significant challenges for the company, marked by plane accidents and instances of aircraft damage. Such incidents might undermine travelers’ confidence in the safety of Boeing flights, especially considering the grounding of their planes on multiple occasions in recent years.
The company is currently implementing measures to address these concerns, including restructuring its leadership at the highest levels. Boeing made an announcement on February 21 regarding the departure of Ed Clark, who served as the leader of the 737 Max program. Clark’s departure was effective immediately. Stan Deal, the CEO of Boeing’s commercial plane unit, communicated this change to employees through a memo.
Clark was based at the Renton, Washington factory, where the manufacturing of Max planes occurred. He assumed his role in 2021 when Boeing announced the ramping up of production for the plane, which encompasses the 737 Max 9 jet.
Clark’s leadership was pivotal for Boeing, particularly following the worldwide grounding of the Max plane for 20 months, which concluded in November 2020. This prohibition stemmed from two overseas plane crashes that resulted in the tragic deaths of 346 passengers and crew members. Apart from the loss of lives, these crashes incurred significant financial losses amounting to billions of dollars for the company.
As per the memo, Katie Ringgold succeeded Clark. She previously managed the deliveries of 737 Max jets. Elizabeth Lund assumed a new responsibility, supervising quality control for all commercial planes within the company. Mike Fleming, who led the Max’s return post-grounding, now occupies Lund’s former position as head of plane programs. Fleming’s prior role as vice president of development programs has been transferred to Don Ruhmann.
In January, travelers embarked on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 flight in Oregon bound for a brief journey to California. As the plane ascended to 16,000 feet, a door plug unexpectedly blew out, resulting in a substantial breach on the side of the aircraft. This plug was positioned over an unused exit door.
A teenage boy seated close to the door had his shirt torn off by the wind’s force when the plug dislodged. Luckily, he was secured with a seatbelt and avoided any harm. Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated the grounding of all Max 9 planes for inspections, although they were eventually cleared for flight again.
A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that four bolts were absent from the door plug, causing its detachment. Boeing is now tasked with rebuilding its reputation once more.
