Crisis for Boeing as ‘Safest Airliner' Crashes for First Time
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed Thursday in India had been plagued with engineering issues—despite being hailed as one of the world's safest commercial aircraft.
Having never previously had a fatal accident while transporting more then one billion passengers since entering service in 2011, the jetliner was praised for its safety Monday by air travel website AviationA2Z.
It said: 'The aircraft's composite construction provides enhanced durability and fatigue resistance compared to traditional aluminium structures.
'The aircraft features sophisticated health monitoring systems that continuously assess component performance and predict maintenance requirements. This proactive approach to maintenance significantly reduces the likelihood of in-flight failures that could compromise safety.'
Yet beneath the hype, the Dreamliner has had a long history of engineering concerns. In January 2013, two lithium‑ion battery fires—one in-flight with ANA and another while parked in Boston—prompted the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to ground the entire fleet, the first time that the FAA had grounded an airliner type since 1979.
From about 2019, quality‑control alarms began sounding. Gaps and faulty shims—fillers used to plug the gaps—in tail sections prompted grounded aircraft and a temporary halt in deliveries.
Then, in April 2024, Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour blew the whistle, claiming the company 'used shortcuts' and flagged issues such as 'drilling holes incorrectly' and forcing components into place—raising fears these defects could degrade structural integrity over time.
Boeing disputed the allegations, insisting that the jets were safe.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Beast.
Boeing's shares were down about 7.5 percent at $197.82 in premarket trading. 'It's a knee-jerk reaction (to the incident) and there's revised fears of the problems that plagued Boeing aircraft and Boeing itself in recent years,' said Chris Beauchamp, analyst at IG Group, quoted by Reuters.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
12 hours ago
- Forbes
Le Bourget - A Subdued But Substantial Paris Air Show
Crowds at the 55th edition of the International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, on June 16, 2025. ... More (Photo by Alain JOCARD / AFP) (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD/AFP via Getty Images) The Paris Air Show is the largest air show in the world as measured by attendees or exhibitors. It has been held every two years (on odd numbered years) since 1949. The first four days are devoted to industry participants from both commercial and defense sectors representing OEM's and companies down through the supply chain and support services. Originated in 1908 as an offshoot of the Paris Motor Show, it was held at the Grand Palais in Paris until 1953 with flying demonstrations at Paris Orly airport. With the advent of commercial aviation growing to the mass market, the Show was moved to Le Bourget field, the landing site of Lindbergh's historic solo transatlantic crossing in May 1927, where he was greeted by a crowd of over one hundred thousand onlookers. The first "Salon du Locomotion Arienne" held in Paris's Grand Palais, 1909. Bleriot and other ... More monoplanes are seen in the foreground. In years past, Air Shows provided a measuring stick for the two major commercial aircraft OEM's, Boeing and Airbus, to keep score in their competition with each other. This was especially true in the 90's and early 00's as Airbus was gradually accumulating market share and eventually overtaking Boeing in aircraft sales and production. Companies would hold orders that had already been inked in previous months in order to boost their count for splashy headlines during the week of the Show. The Show also provided a world stage for the flight demonstration of a new aircraft model or defense system. In 2025, many of those aspects have changed or receded amidst a backdrop of war, recent tragedy and technological plateau. The ongoing hostilities in Ukraine have placed the spotlight on lightweight, agile offensive systems as opposed to the 'big iron' of new expensive weaponry. The tragic loss of an Air India Boeing 787 days before the Show led to the decision for senior Boeing executives to not attend and for the company to keep a low profile. The duopoly of the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 series continues to build backlog without expectation of a new technology aircraft for at least a decade. A similar development was apparent in the military realm where legacy platforms which were designed years or decades earlier were being adapted to new missions, outfitted with new sensor suites, or positioned as flying 'command posts' for unmanned weapons. Nevertheless, dynamism was apparent in other sectors including Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), space systems and Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO). MRO has continued to be a focus due to the continued demand driven by commercial aircraft that will need to be flown years longer on average, due to the production shortfalls resulting from the pandemic and various Boeing delays. JetZero ("A New Entrant to the Commercial Aerospace Duopoly?" - March 28, 2025) detailed its development plan for it's radical design aircraft that could serve as a next generation airliner or a military tanker. Sustainability, which has been a persistent focus for innovation over the past several years, was still strongly evident in pronouncements and product attributes, but the growing recognition that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and hydrogen powered aircraft are not near term environmental solutions reflected the recent waning support from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airbus. Several geopolitical forces were also evident in the concerns of attendees. First, the US Administration's pronouncements indicating weakened support for NATO and the need for European countries to contribute more to their own defense has intensified investment in and activities of defense companies within the EU. This coupled with the Administration's increase of the US defense budget amid global tensions resulted in a much more defense focused show than in years past. The mood was amplified by the Israeli attacks on Iran that began over the weekend when many of the initial receptions and gatherings were being held. Second, the Administration's imposition of tariffs has increased focus on the resiliency of global supply chains and the ability to meet production goals in a much more complex environment. On both the commercial, as well as the military side, the ability to deliver against order books was a paramount concern due to the ongoing ramp in commercial deliveries, and the shortfalls in munitions and missiles from wars in Ukraine and the mid-East. Much as the iPhone has continued to improve capabilities on a platform that debuted eighteen years ago, the sense of the show was not on new product announcements but on enhancements to legacy platforms and proving capability to meet demand expectations in a challenging global environment.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
Why defense and Airbus dominated this year's Paris Air Show
Airbus announced hundreds of orders at the Paris Air Show, while Boeing maintained a low profile. The Air India crash cast a long shadow over the event, with defense taking the spotlight. Airline passenger numbers are above pre-pandemic levels and supply chain constraints are easing. Airbus won the orders game at an unusual Paris Air Show, overshadowed by geopolitical tensions and last Thursday's Air India plane crash. Boeing chose not to announce any orders and kept a low profile. The sense of mourning was palpable inside the company's chalet. All staff wore Air India pin badges to commemorate Flight 171. "This show definitely has a very different tone for us in the Boeing company," said Turbo Sjogren, senior vice-president for government services, as he began its first media briefing on Tuesday. "When you go into our chalet, when you go into our exhibit, you will see not only flowers, but you will see all Boeing employees wearing this," he added, pointing to his pin. "It's been a very tough time for us, and it affects all of our employees." Both CEO Kelly Ortberg and the chief of its commercial airplanes division, Stephanie Pope, canceled their plans to attend the show. Even as Airbus announced order after order, airline and lessor CEOs began signing ceremonies by expressing sympathy for the victims in Ahmedabad. The European planemaker tallied 142 firm commercial aircraft orders, including 25 A350-1000s from Saudi Arabia's new airline, Riyadh Air. Additionally, Vietnam's VietJet signed an agreement to buy 100 A321neos. Embraer also scored big, as regional airline SkyWest ordered 60 E175 jets in a deal the Brazilian firm valued at $3.6 billion. With 2,500 exhibitors from 48 countries, the global nature of aviation was tangible at Le Bourget Airport — where Charles Lindbergh landed the Spirit of St Louis after his historic transatlantic flight in 1927. However, geopolitical tensions bubbled over amid the conflicts in Gaza and between Israel and Iran. Five Israeli defense companies arrived on Monday to find organizers had blocked off their stands overnight with large black walls. The French government had ordered them to remove offensive weapons from their pavilions, but they declined to do so, Israel's ministry of defense said in a statement. "They're saying that they would discuss it with us and see what goes out, but when we came here this morning, it was unilaterally done," Shlomo Toaff, an executive vice president at Rafael, told reporters. Business Insider saw half a dozen police officers gathered by the pavilions on Monday morning, and two officers standing guard throughout the week. French Prime Minister François Bayrou said the decision was made given "extreme tensions" in the region and "France's diplomatic choices, in particular the very great concern about Gaza." Meanwhile, the F-35 appeared to be the most popular aircraft of the flying displays. Nearly everyone on the tarmac stopped, phones pointed skyward, below the deafening roar of the fighter jet that Israel has used to bomb Gaza and Tehran. Compared to past major shows, it was a salient reminder of an increasingly troubled world. Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer also pulled out of the air show at the last minute. In a video message after the airline was named the world's top carrier for the ninth time, he said he flew home from Paris on Monday, "to focus on our operational responsibilities due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East." "It feels incredibly strange not to be there," Al-Meer added. "In over a decade with our airline and airport, I've never missed a Skytrax ceremony." Growing conflicts and President Donald Trump's policies have prompted European countries to increase their defense spending and seek more autonomy over military programs. About 45% of the Paris Air Show was dedicated to defense and security, a "strong increase" from 2023, organisers said. The event is typically far more focused on civil aviation, especially compared to the UK's defense-leaning Farnborough Air Show, with which it alternates each year. While there were reasons for industry figures to feel despondent this week, the sector is starting to move on from recent troubles. At last year's Farnborough show and Paris the year before, the main theme was recovering from the pandemic. Passenger numbers have now eclipsed 2019 levels, and while the supply chain is still struggling, constraints are easing. "There is renewed optimism around the ability to restore capacity," said Chad Stecker of Incora, a supply chain solutions provider for aerospace and defense firms. "We're not out yet, I would say," he told BI. "But there's really a life at this show, a renewed life, and optimism around where we're headed." Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business Insider
Why defense and Airbus dominated this year's Paris Air Show
Airbus won the orders game at an unusual Paris Air Show, overshadowed by geopolitical tensions and last Thursday's Air India plane crash. Boeing chose not to announce any orders and kept a low profile. The sense of mourning was palpable inside the company's chalet. All staff wore Air India pin badges to commemorate Flight 171. "This show definitely has a very different tone for us in the Boeing company," said Turbo Sjogren, senior vice-president for government services, as he began its first media briefing on Tuesday. "When you go into our chalet, when you go into our exhibit, you will see not only flowers, but you will see all Boeing employees wearing this," he added, pointing to his pin. "It's been a very tough time for us, and it affects all of our employees." Both CEO Kelly Ortberg and the chief of its commercial airplanes division, Stephanie Pope, canceled their plans to attend the show. Even as Airbus announced order after order, airline and lessor CEOs began signing ceremonies by expressing sympathy for the victims in Ahmedabad. The European planemaker tallied 142 firm commercial aircraft orders, including 25 A350-1000s from Saudi Arabia's new airline, Riyadh Air. Additionally, Vietnam's VietJet signed an agreement to buy 100 A321neos. Embraer also scored big, as regional airline SkyWest ordered 60 E175 jets in a deal the Brazilian firm valued at $3.6 billion. With 2,500 exhibitors from 48 countries, the global nature of aviation was tangible at Le Bourget Airport — where Charles Lindbergh landed the Spirit of St Louis after his historic transatlantic flight in 1927. However, geopolitical tensions bubbled over amid the conflicts in Gaza and between Israel and Iran. Five Israeli defense companies arrived on Monday to find organizers had blocked off their stands overnight with large black walls. The French government had ordered them to remove offensive weapons from their pavilions, but they declined to do so, Israel's ministry of defense said in a statement. "They're saying that they would discuss it with us and see what goes out, but when we came here this morning, it was unilaterally done," Shlomo Toaff, an executive vice president at Rafael, told reporters. Business Insider saw half a dozen police officers gathered by the pavilions on Monday morning, and two officers standing guard throughout the week. French Prime Minister François Bayrou said the decision was made given "extreme tensions" in the region and "France's diplomatic choices, in particular the very great concern about Gaza." Meanwhile, the F-35 appeared to be the most popular aircraft of the flying displays. Nearly everyone on the tarmac stopped, phones pointed skyward, below the deafening roar of the fighter jet that Israel has used to bomb Gaza and Tehran. Compared to past major shows, it was a salient reminder of an increasingly troubled world. Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer also pulled out of the air show at the last minute. In a video message after the airline was named the world's top carrier for the ninth time, he said he flew home from Paris on Monday, "to focus on our operational responsibilities due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East." "It feels incredibly strange not to be there," Al-Meer added. "In over a decade with our airline and airport, I've never missed a Skytrax ceremony." Growing conflicts and President Donald Trump 's policies have prompted European countries to increase their defense spending and seek more autonomy over military programs. About 45% of the Paris Air Show was dedicated to defense and security, a "strong increase" from 2023, organisers said. The event is typically far more focused on civil aviation, especially compared to the UK's defense-leaning Farnborough Air Show, with which it alternates each year. While there were reasons for industry figures to feel despondent this week, the sector is starting to move on from recent troubles. At last year's Farnborough show and Paris the year before, the main theme was recovering from the pandemic. Passenger numbers have now eclipsed 2019 levels, and while the supply chain is still struggling, constraints are easing. "There is renewed optimism around the ability to restore capacity," said Chad Stecker of Incora, a supply chain solutions provider for aerospace and defense firms. "We're not out yet, I would say," he told BI. "But there's really a life at this show, a renewed life, and optimism around where we're headed."
