Boeing CEO summoned to testify before Senate next week

The US Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by Senator Richard Blumenthal, said Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun will testify before a US Senate panel on June 18 on a series of issues.

The concerns raised by the panel come after a series of incidents with Boeing’s 737 MAX. Two fatal accidents in 2018 and 2019, and a door panel blowing out during a January 2023 flight, resulted in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) barred Boeing from boosting production of the model.

The subcommittee is expected to focus on safety concerns after unsuccessful changes in the company’s quality control and culture practices. In the short term, the hearing outcome is expected to play a significant role in the US Department of Justice’s decision on whether to file charges against Boeing due to infringement of their US$ 2.5 billion settlement. The testimony will likely have long term implications to the US aviation industry and its regulatory landscape. Some outcomes could include more rigorous oversight by the FAA and increased government intervention to bolster competitiveness as other countries continue to gain share in the global aviation market.