This paper analyzes U.S. aircraft maker Boeing and its recent troubles which include two accidents involving its 737 MAX airplanes resulting in the deaths of 346 passengers and crew. Boeing has been accused of rushing the 737 MAX onto the market prematurely to keep pace with rival Airbus. In its haste to match the commercial moves of its competitor, Boeing may have neglected quality control issues and failed to properly train its pilots for the new design. Boeing’s troubles continued into 2024 with an incident involving an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 aircraft that was forced to make an emergency landing after a mid-flight malfunction. All of this raises the question of whether Boeing’s recent problems are simply a series of unfortunate accidents or the result of ethical failings on the part of senior executives who have prioritized profits over safety. This paper considers this question as well as what Boeing can do to salvage its reputation and regain trust.
Sofia Dimo (Mon,) studied this question.