“Our culture is far from perfect, but we are taking action and making progress,” Calhoun said in his prepared remarks. “We understand the gravity, and we are committed to moving forward with transparency and accountability, while elevating employee engagement.”
This will mark the first appearance of a high-ranking Boeing official before Congress since a panel blew out of a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight in January, raising new concerns about the company’s best-selling commercial aircraft.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are conducting separate investigations into that incident.
One June 13, the head of the FAA told a Senate committee the agency was “too hands off” in its oversight of Boeing before the January incident.
Tuesday’s hearing comes as the Justice Department is considering whether to prosecute Boeing for violating terms of a settlement in connection with two fatal 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.
FAA probe launched into titanium used in some Boeing and Airbus jets
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) opened a probe into Boeing and Airbus, two of the largest commercial plane manufacturers, to determine how counterfeit titanium got into their supply chains. On Friday, June 14, The New York Times reported that Spirit Aerosystems, which provides fuselages to Boeing and wings to Airbus, used titanium with falsified documentation. The probe came after inspectors reportedly found small corrosion holes in the materials.
A Spirit Aerosystems spokesperson said that it has removed all questionable titanium from the supply chain. The company performed more than “1,000 tests” to check “airworthiness.”
Meanwhile, Boeing said that it removed the parts in question from aircraft before delivery. The manufacturer also said there is no impact to the safety of its fleet.
Airbus said that it does not know how many aircraft are affected. However, tests show its planes “airworthiness remains intact,” according to the company.
Boeing issued an alert to suppliers, warning them to be vigilant when looking out for falsified documentation on parts. Federal investigators said that the aero giant alerted the agency of the problem voluntarily.
However, the FAA is still looking into who sold the fraudulently documented titanium to Spirit Aerosystems.
The FAA probe comes as concerns rise over airplane parts with false documentation entering the supply chain. Last year, CFM, a jet engine manufacturer, revealed that thousands of its engine components may have been sold with fake records from a British distributor. The revelation forced airlines to change parts on a handful of planes.
The latest investigation came after the FAA said earlier on Friday that it was looking into what caused a Boeing 737 Max jet to maneuver out of control in a “Dutch Roll.” The incident happened on a flight from Phoenix to Oakland in May 2024. The plane tilted left-to-right at the same time the nose moved up and down.
As Boeing looks to restore confidence, more whistleblowers emerge
As Boeing looks to restore confidence in its brand amid a flurry of recent safety flubs, more whistleblowers are coming forward with accusations against the company’s safety practices. The latest two whistleblowers told the New York Post that some of the planes being pushed out the door are unfit for flight.
The latest two whistleblowers to make their voices heard are Roy Irvin, a veteran of Boeing, and Santiago Paredes, who worked at Spirit Aerosystems. However, they are just two of at least 20 reported whistleblowers who are hoping to bring about change within Boeing manufacturing.
Irvin worked with 787 Dreamliners from 2011-2017 in Charleston, South Carolina, where he said that he pushed back “almost every day” over safety and quality issues. He said that he had to be “insubordinate” to management because of how many problems he saw with the jets. Irvin noted problems like missing safety devices on hardware, which he said could cause the pilot to lose control of the aircraft.
Paredes, a former production inspector, said he saw hundreds of defects on the production line. He said that he was “horrified,” but was pressured to keep quiet about the issues by management. Paredes said that he saw everything from missing parts to incomplete parts, issues that he said should have been taken care of long before they reached him. Paredes’ job was to look at the finished product before it shipped.
“Everything I was seeing was like a ticking time bomb,” Paredes said.
CBS News reports that Paredes’ bosses allegedly nicknamed him “showstopper” because of his documentation of defects, often delaying deliveries.
Busy Memorial Day weekend to see record number on the roads
If you’re planning to travel for Memorial Day, you will be among a near-record number of people to be on the move this holiday weekend — a number not seen in almost 20 years. AAA projects 43.8 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the five-day Memorial Day holiday period, which began on Thursday, May 23 and extends through Monday, May 27.
AAA said the total number of travelers is a 4% increase over last year and is very close to matching 2005’s record high of 44 million travelers.
“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”
AAA is projecting at least one record will be broken as 38.4 million travelers are expected to hit the road. That’s the highest number for a Memorial Day weekend since AAA began tracking in 2000.
“Traveling by car is appealing for many people because of the convenience and flexibility it provides,” AAA said.
According to Hertz, Orlando, Denver, Atlanta, Boston and Las Vegas are the cities displaying the highest rental demand.
Meanwhile, AAA expects 3.51 million will choose to fly this weekend, an increase of 4.8% over last year and a 9% jump compared to 2019.
Passengers arrive after turbulent Singapore Airlines flight from London
Most passengers from a Singapore Airlines flight that encountered severe turbulence on Tuesday, May 21, have finally reached their destination. The flight, traveling from London to Singapore, resulted in the death of a 73-year-old British passenger from a suspected heart attack. Dozens more were injured.
The airline said 143 passengers arrived in the city state shortly after 5 a.m. local time.
The Boeing 777, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok after a sudden descent of 6,000 feet, likely caused by clear air turbulence.
The airline’s CEO, Goh Choon Phong, stated that 79 passengers and six crew members — including 71 who were hospitalized — stayed behind in Bangkok as of Wednesday, May 22.
“We are very sorry for the traumatic experience that everyone on board SQ321 went through,” Goh said in a social media video. He added that the airline is providing all necessary support and will fully cooperate with investigations.
“I saw people from across the aisle just going completely horizontal, hitting the ceiling and landing back down in really awkward positions,” Dzafran Azmir, a passenger on Flight SQ321, said. “People, like, getting massive gashes in the head, concussions.”
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board along with Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau are investigating the turbulence.
Airlines sue Biden Administration over new fee disclosure rule
Several major U.S. airlines, including Delta, American, United, Hawaiian, JetBlue and Alaska, filed a lawsuit against the Transportation Department. The group filed the lawsuit in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, May 10.
In April, the Biden administration unveiled new rules that apply to checked bag fees. These rules require airlines and ticket agents to be more upfront about fees for seat selection, baggage and changing flight reservations.
According to Reuters, the lawsuit claims that the new rule is “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and otherwise contrary to law.”
Airlines for America, a trade organization that represents several major U.S. airlines, released a statement asserting that airlines already disclose all fees and that the new rules will confuse customers and complicate the buying process.
A study conducted by travel experts at IdeaWorks found that the top 20 airlines in the world collected nearly $118 billion in extra fees in 2023. That number included $33 billion in bag fees.
As of now, the Transportation Department has not responded to the lawsuit. Southwest Airlines did not join the suit.
Second Boeing whistleblower claiming safety issues were ignored dies suddenly
A Boeing whistleblower has died suddenly after developing a severe infection, according to The Seattle Times. Josh Dean, 45, was a former quality auditor for Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems since 2019.
Dean’s aunt, Carol Parsons, spoke with The Seattle Times and said Dean was living a healthy lifestyle before he died on the morning of Tuesday, April 30. He had suddenly fallen ill two weeks ago when he went to the hospital for having trouble breathing. Parsons said his condition rapidly deteriorated as he was intubated, developed pneumonia, MRSA — a bacterial staph infection — and suffered a stroke.
In October 2022, Dean reported finding a serious manufacturing defect in how the Boeing 737 MAX jets were constructed and said mechanics improperly drilled holes in the aft pressure bulkhead. Dean said he raised the alarm to management in 2022 but claimed nothing was done about the issue.
Dean was fired in April 2023 after missing a different manufacturing flaw during the same audit which caused a delivery pause at Boeing’s Renton plant.
In August 2023, Spirit announced it discovered improperly drilled holes in Boeing’s MAX aft pressure bulkhead. Dean said at the time he believed those were the same holes he flagged to his superiors.
Dean filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), claiming he was fired because Spirit used him as a scapegoat and covered up the discovery of the improperly drilled holes.
The FAA found Dean’s complaint to be credible.
Dean also filed an aviation whistleblower complaint with the Department of Labor, alleging wrongful termination and gross misconduct by senior-level management at Spirit AeroSystems.
Additionally, Dean provided a deposition against Spirit in a shareholders lawsuit. The case was still pending at the time of his death.
Dean’s death comes less than two months after Boeing whistleblower John Barnett was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in a hotel parking lot in Charleston, South Carolina.
Prior to his death, Barnett had reported compromised safety standard at Boeing and was in the middle of testifying against the plane manufacturer in a whistleblower lawsuit.
“Our thoughts are with Josh Dean’s family,” A spokesperson for Spirit AeroSystems said in a statement. “This sudden loss is stunning news here and for his loved ones.”
Biden administration cracks down on flight refunds and hidden fees
The Biden administration is cracking down on some major air travel headaches. New rules from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) aim to enhance the refund process and get rid of hidden fees.
The department announced on Wednesday, April 24, that it will now require airlines to give automatic cash refunds for canceled flights or flights with “significant delays.” Airlines must issue refunds within seven days for a credit card and within 20 days for other forms of payment.
The new regulations also create a uniform standard for what constitutes a “significant delay” instead of letting airlines decide. All airlines will have to follow a single definition: When a departure or arrival is delayed by at least three hours for domestic flights and at least six hours for international flights, airlines must give a refund.
The rule also applies to refunds for checked-baggage fees if luggage is not delivered within 12 hours for domestic flights or 15-30 hours for international flights. Automatic refunds will also be applicable to fees like seat selection or an internet connection if the airline fails to provide the promised service.
A separate stipulation requires airlines and ticket agents to be more upfront about hidden fees including fees for checked bags, seat selection and canceling or changing a reservation. Airlines websites will now have to show the fees the first time the customers see a price and schedule. The department said the aim is to prevent bait-and-switch tactic that hide the true costs of flights.
According to the Department of Transportation, the new rule will save customers around $500 million dollars a year. The department will implement the changes over the next two years.
Passenger advocate groups praised the new rules. However, in response, Airlines of America stated that its airlines already “abide by and frequently exceed” DOT consumer protection regulations. Airline complaints skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but carriers noted complaints dropped significantly over the past few years.
These leadership shifts occur as Boeing undergoes rigorous scrutiny over its manufacturing practices and safety protocols, sparked by a series of incidents. A notable episode involved a door plug coming loose mid-flight on a Boeing 737 Max 9 during an Alaska Airlines journey, prompting a criminal probe.
United Airlines-operated Boeing planes have also faced multiple problems, including an engine fire caused by plastic wrap, a tire detachment after takeoff and a plane veering off course.
Calhoun, who assumed leadership in 2020, committed to revitalizing Boeing following two 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019. The crashes collectively claimed the lives of nearly 350 people.
Despite facing intense scrutiny, Calhoun conveyed a message of optimism to employees.
“The eyes of the world are on us, and I know that we will come through this moment a better company,” Calhoun said. “I originally agreed to take on the role of CEO of Boeing at the board’s request, stepping down as board chair in the process, because of the unprecedented circumstances the company was facing at that time. It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve in both roles and I will only feel the journey has been properly completed when we finish the job that we need to do. We are going to fix what isn’t working, and we are going to get our company back on the track towards recovery and stability.”
West emphasized Boeing’s unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability with regulatory bodies. West acknowledged the need for change and promised a cautious and deliberate approach to improvement.
“The FAA is deeply involved and undertaking a tougher audit than anything we’ve ever been through before,” West said. “There are changes that need to happen. There’s no doubt about it. But we’re going to do so diligently and expeditiously. But we won’t rush or go too fast.”
Calhoun’s departure marks him as the second CEO to exit the company amidst ongoing concerns over product quality and manufacturing challenges.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel amid growing tension between the two countries, and the Justice Department is suing Campbell’s, one of several suits filed against the soup company. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, March 22, 2024.
Blinken arrives in Israel to discuss Rafah, cease-fire talks
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel, landing Friday, March 22, in Tel Aviv amid growing tensions between the two allies over the conflict in Gaza.
Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Get The Morning RundownTM newsletter straight to your inbox!
Blinken is set to discuss with Israeli officials the United States’ position that Israel’s planned invasion of the city of Rafah would be a mistake. Rafah is currently a refuge for more than one million Palestinians.
Following meetings with leaders in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Blinken’s visit to Israel aims to address the ongoing crisis. In Cairo, he informed reporters the U.S. is advocating for a deal leading to a temporary cease-fire and the release of more hostages, though he acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “There is still more difficult work to get there.”
CIA Director William Burns is in Qatar, meeting with other intelligence officials to advance negotiations with Hamas.
Additionally, the U.N. Security Council is expected to vote today on a U.S.-sponsored resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and condemning Hamas’ attack on Israel.
Congress racing to approve $1.2 trillion spending package to avert shutdown
Congress is working quickly to pass a $1.2 trillion spending package to prevent a partial government shutdown before Friday night’s deadline. This package combines six spending bills, primarily focusing on defense.
The bill includes a 5.2% pay raise for service members and allocates funds to the Department of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, among other departments.
The House must pass the $1.2 trillion spending package with a two-thirds vote. In the Senate, unanimous consent from all 100 senators is required for swift passage. Any dissent could potentially slow the process and delay the package’s approval.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he expects the bill to pass.
Sen. Bob Menendez won’t seek reelection as a Democrat
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez will not seek reelection this year in New Jersey’s Democratic primary but is keeping the door open to an independent run, announced his office following a 14-count federal bribery indictment.
The indictment states that, in exchange for lavish gifts and hundreds of thousands of dollars, Menendez performed ‘official acts’ such as sharing ‘cabinet-level information’ with governments in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, among others.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, claiming they have subjected him and his extensive public service of more than 25 years to “a cloud of suspicion.”
Menendez posted a nine-minute video to social media on Thursday, March 21.
“I know many of you are hurt and disappointed in me with the accusations I’m facing. Believe me, I am disappointed at the false accusations as well,” Menendez said. “All I can ask of you is to withhold judgment until justice takes place. Until then, I will continue to work my heart out each and every day, as I have for the past years, to fight for New Jersey, for you, your family, and a more prosperous, secure future.”
With Menendez stepping out of the Democratic primary, the race is expected to intensify. Democrats are bracing for a fierce primary battle between incumbent Congressman Andy Kim and Tammy Murphy. The state’s November election is anticipated to be highly competitive.
Department of Justice sues Campbell Soup over pollution at Ohio plant
According to the Justice Department, Campbell has been violating pollution limits at its northwestern Ohio plant since 2018. The pollutants identified in the water coming from Campbell’s plant include bacteria and E. coli.
The lawsuit was filed just hours after two environmental groups brought similar suits against the company. These suits seek to have the court fine Campbell for more than 5,000 violations and require the company to upgrade its plant’s wastewater treatment facility.
In response, Campbell issued a statement saying the company is taking the concerns very seriously and is acting to permanently resolve them.
FAA warns of total solar eclipse impacting air travel
In a bulletin titled “Special Air Traffic Procedures,” the FAA alerted travelers to potential disruptions to air travel before and after the eclipse. The agency warned of higher than normal traffic volumes and delays at airports along the eclipse’s path, including in cities like Cleveland, Dallas, and Indianapolis.
Fifteen states are located in what is known as the path of totality, where the moon completely blocks the sun for several minutes. However, every state will experience at least a partial solar eclipse.
For more information, look out for a special report on the total solar eclipse on SAN.com in the coming days.
More than 2,000 brackets remain perfect after 16 games
With the first round of the men’s NCAA tournament underway, many fans are facing busted brackets this morning. However, not everyone is out of the running; some brackets remain perfect.
After 16 games, more than 2,000 brackets are still intact out of over 29 million entries across major online tournament challenges, including those hosted by the NCAA, ESPN, CBS, and Yahoo.
The NCAA noted that most brackets were busted after the first two games, with victories by No. 9 Michigan State and No. 11 Duquesne. The upset of No. 14 Oakland defeating No. 3 Kentucky eliminated even more brackets — 6.5 percent of participants had Kentucky winning the championship.
Despite the widespread bracket failures, fans have made more accurate predictions than last year, when only 787 brackets remained perfect after the first day.