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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Boeing whistleblower reveals theory behind Air India crash
When Air India flight 171 to London crashed and exploded into flames moments after take-off from the West Indian city of Ahmedabad, the world watched in horror. All but one of the 242 passengers on board died when the aircraft plummeted into a residential area Thursday June 12. At least eight people in the area where it came down were also killed. On Sunday, India's Office for Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a written statement, 'The AAIB (Air Accidents Investigation Branch) has launched a detailed investigation, and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting a parallel probe under international protocols since the aircraft is American made.' Both Boeing – which manufactures the 787 Dreamliner airplane which crashed – and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced they had teams standing by to support investigators. Meanwhile, Air India announced Wednesday that it would temporarily cut international flights on widebody aircraft by 15 percent. But while preliminary findings may be made public within the next few months, a full report into the tragedy isn't expected to be published for at least a year. And according to aerospace engineer and Boeing whistleblower, Joe Jacobsen, that delay is not only unnecessary, it could prove fatal. He knows because he's seen it all before. Jacobsen worked at both Boeing and the FAA for decades. He is the man who raised the alarm about issues at the aeronautic giant in the wake of two fatal crashes involving the 737 MAX aircraft and killing a total of 346 people across 2018 and 2019. Last year, he testified at a senate subcommittee hearing on the 737 aircraft and Boeing's safety culture. Now, he has spoken exclusively with the Daily Mail to blow the lid on the finger pointing and blame shifting that, he said, goes on between airlines and aircraft manufacturers and needlessly delays the conclusion of vital reports into what lies behind crashes such as the Air India tragedy. Jacobsen said, 'Investigators would be able to have a pretty good idea of what happened within a week, and I would think they definitely should have 95 percent of the information within a month.' Indeed, both of Flight 171's key information sources – the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder or black box – had been recovered by Sunday. He said, 'It only takes a couple of days to download and have a look at that.' But, Jacobsen said, despite these valuable sources, much of the actionable findings won't be released to the public or acted upon for months. Shockingly, he went onto allege that part of Boeing's motivation in stalling on the release of potentially damaging findings, is financial. He explained, 'A lot of people are invested in Boeing and so they try and delay this stuff so people forget about it, or at least they can make their changes before the bottom falls out.' Indeed, these accidents take a massive toll on company finances. Boeing Co's stock closed at $203.75 on June 12, down 4.8%, after plunging as much as 8% in pre-market trading. One week after the crash it had continued its downward trajectory, hovering around $198.35 on Wednesday. Certainly, analysts and investment firms have been quick to downplay the impact and immediacy of the Air India crash to their investors. RBC Capital Markets, the global investment banking and capital markets arm of the Royal Bank of Canada, issued an investors' note last week in which they cautioned against any rush sell-off on the back of the Air India crash. They stated, 'It can often take months to fully understand the causes of a crash, and the implications for Boeing and its suppliers.' But from his experience, Jacobsen said, 'They know 95 percent of what happened after a week - but then the next 11 months are used up by people trying to control the message, and point fingers at one another, who's responsible, who's not responsible.' Jacobsen's worry is that, if the cause for last week's crash is a systemic issue across the 787 Dreamliner fleet, another crash could happen before it has been publicly identified and addressed. Indeed, with over 1,100 Dreamliners still in operation there has already been another scare. On Monday, another Air India pilot turned his 787 Dreamliner around 30 minutes into the flight, citing a technical issue. The airline told Reuters that the decision to return had been made as a matter of 'abundant precaution' and the flight had landed safely - they did not disclose the nature of the technical issue. US officials have stated there is no immediate evidence to warrant grounding the rest of the aircraft worldwide. But in the absence of any findings, this approach troubles Jacobsen. He said, 'A lot of times when it shows up on one airplane, there's other airplanes that have the same or similar issue. 'We shouldn't be saying we're going to take our time and figure this out. No. We have to have urgency. There's another crash that could happen if we're not working as quickly as we can to get the information out as rapidly as possible.' This is not empty scaremongering. Jacobsen has seen it happen. He was working at the FAA when an Indonesian domestic flight, Lion Air Flight 610, plunged into the Java Sea 13 minutes after take-off on October 29, 2018. All 189 passengers on board the Boeing 737 MAX perished. Jacobsen recalled, 'I got the flight data recorder data a week after the crash, and it took five minutes to see what the problem was.' But a full report into the disaster wasn't released for a year. In the meantime, there was another fatal crash when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed six minutes after take-off in March 2019. In that instance all 149 passengers and 8 crew members were killed. Both incidents involved the Boeing 737 MAX and both were found to be caused by the same flawed flight control system. Boeing recently reached a $1.1 billion deal with the US Justice Department over the two crashes. Jacobsen isn't the only one frustrated by the slow drip feeding of information. Lawyers for another Boeing whistleblower, Sam Salehpour, put out a statement on Friday, criticizing the FAA for sitting on a report about safety issues with the Boeing 787 - the same model as the Air India crash - and 878 for months. Salehpour went public with his concerns last year, stating that Boeing was using 'shortcuts' in the making of the 787 Dreamliner fuselage and sparking a federal investigation into the company. But on Friday his lawyer Debra Katz expressed frustration at its slow progress. She said, 'The FAA previously represented to us that they had completed an investigation, suggested that it had meaningful and significant findings that supported Mr Salehpour's allegations, and it was going to release them imminently. 'That was months ago. We urge the agency to disclose the results of its investigation.' For Jacobsen the solution is clear. Issue findings promptly, allowing problems to be addressed and giving families the answers they need, or ground affected aircraft until the cause of these devastating crashes has been made public. Because as things stand, he fears, more people could die while investigators and Boeing drag their feet and families wait. Boeing did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment. Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg issued a statement following the crash which included the assurance, 'I have spoken with Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran to offer our full support, and a Boeing team stands ready to support the investigation led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.'
Ya Biladi
a day ago
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Figeac Aero partners with Boeing to produce 737 MAX parts in Morocco
The French company Figeac Aero, specializing in subcontracting metal parts for the aerospace industry, has announced a new partnership with American aircraft manufacturer Boeing to produce parts for the Boeing 737 MAX in Morocco. The agreement covers the production of «machined aluminum parts for Boeing's 737 MAX» at Figeac Aero's local subsidiary, Casablanca Aéronautique, according to a company statement. The announcement coincided with the group's participation in the 55th International Paris Air Show, held at Le Bourget near Paris from June 16 to 22. With 900 employees, Casablanca Aéronautique is one of Figeac Aero's largest production sites, offering a full range of industrial services including machining, sheet metal work, surface treatment, and assembly. «This new agreement perfectly illustrates our strategy of global reach combined with a strong local presence. It also highlights the growth opportunities for our production sites in Morocco and worldwide», said Jean-Claude Maillard, Chairman and CEO of Figeac Aero, in the statement. Aligned with the group's strategic plan, «Pilot 28», which prioritizes North America and its clients as key to achieving new business goals, the announcement «reinforces management's confidence in the group's ability to meet these targets», the statement added.
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Royal Air Maroc CEO Frustrated Over Boeing Delivery Delays, Says Situation Is Improving
Rabat – Hamid Addou, CEO of Morocco's national carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM), shared the company's ambitions, plan, as well as frustration over the delay in submitting ordered aircraft from Boeing. He made his remarks during a recent interview with CNN, in which he shared Royal Air Maroc's heavy investments, but also setbacks, as some aircraft arrive up to 18 months late. 'You have to offer your customers what they're paying for. And in the economy… You have to offer the kind of service they're expecting. So we need to invest in the product, and we are already doing it,' Addou said. He said that, of course, one feels frustrated when you have 15 to 18 months late deliveries. Addou acknowledged that all executives and airlines face the same issue, promising that 'things are evolving in the right direction. Well, we just received three MAX's this week.' RAM's CEO added that Royal Air Maroc is set to receive seven of its ordered fleet by the end of December, noting that things are 'getting better.' 'Based on my information, the rhythm of production is increasing, which is a good sign,' Addou noted, adding that the company trusts its partners. The remarks came just a few days before an agreement between Boeing and Casablanca's Aironautique, a subsidiary of France's Fiageac Aero Group. Under the deal, the two parties will produce parts for the 737 MAX. Earlier this month, converging reports indicated that Royal Air Maroc is in the final stages of a significant aircraft deal with Boeing, alongside a smaller agreement with Airbus. Bloomberg cited sources familiar with the matter as saying that the Boeing order could be delayed, potentially pending a high-level meeting between King Mohammed VI and US President Donald Trump. During his interview with CNN, Addou also shared Royal Air Maroc's point of strength, noting that while the GCC Airlines focus more on Asia, RAM has a stronger presence on the south-north route between Africa and Europe. 'Where it's complicated for us to compete is against low-cost carriers,' the CEO of Royal Air Maroc said, adding that Morocco has over 40 competitors that will need a new model and a new market. Addou also thanked RAM's teams for developing new markets to compete against companies like Wizz, EasyJet, and Ryanair. He pledged that Royal Air Maroc is developing a different market in Africa, citing the company's strategy to put different and special plans for customers, in line with Morocco's culture. ' I think that if you want to feel again the first experience of the country, the airline is the best way to start a good journey,' he said. Addou added that Royal Air Maroc is in the center geographically, which makes the company able to capitalize on what clients like the world diaspora can offer. Tags: Royal Air MarocRoyal Air Maroc (RAM)
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
At The Movies: Illogical twists in Echo Valley, David Cronenberg's daughter debuts with Humane
At The Movies: Illogical twists in Echo Valley, David Cronenberg's daughter debuts with Humane Echo Valley (M18) 104 minutes, streaming on Apple TV+ ★★☆☆☆ The story: Kate (Julianne Moore) is a solitary divorcee running a horse ranch in Echo Valley in America's rural Pennsylvania, where her prodigal daughter Claire (Sydney Sweeney) shows up hysterical late one night with a dead body in her car. She has, she claims, bashed in her boyfriend's (Edmund Donovan) head by accident during a spat. How far will a parent go to protect her child? To answer the poser in the Apple TV+ thriller Echo Valley, Kate, without hesitation, goes to the local lake and disposes of the corpse. A drug addict, Claire has furthermore unwittingly tossed out US$10,000 worth of heroin belonging to a dealer (Domhnall Gleeson) among her boyfriend's possessions. Kate, who cannot even afford her roof repair, has to somehow repay him or he will kill them both. The depressed middle-ager, once married to a lawyer (Kyle MacLachlan), is mourning the death of her wife in a tragic accident. She cannot risk losing Claire too. And so, it is one bad decision after another. The same can be said of the story from Mare Of Easttown (2021) series creator Brad Ingelsby, directed by Bafta-winning British film-maker Michael Pearce of Beast (2017). Beyond plot quirks such as Kate's bisexuality that does nothing to deepen her character, this study on unconditional maternal love takes illogical twists into a third-act crime melodrama once the dealer blackmails her for the murder. He is a menacing villain. But the central relationship getting sidelined is between the exasperatingly acquiescent Kate and Sweeney's shrill, manipulative Claire, whose emotional betrayal is the most grievous violence. Hot take: Moore and Sweeney are an intense double act in a movie that does not know what to do with them nor what it wants to be. Humane (NC16) 93 minutes, streaming on Max ★★★☆☆ (From left) Jay Baruchel, Alanna Bale, Sebastian Chacon, Sirena Gulamgaus and Emily Hampshire in Humane. PHOTO: MAX The story: Mere months after an ecological collapse, world leaders are mandating euthanasia either voluntary or by conscription as a means to reduce the population. Those contributing to the planet-saving effort are valorised as 'heroes', and their next-of-kin are rewarded with a substantial payout. Humane is directed by Canadian photographer Caitlin Cronenberg. Her dad, Canadian auteur David Cronenberg, is the progenitor of body-horror cinema, and her brother is film-maker Brandon Cronenberg of Infinity Pool (2023) and Antiviral (2012). Nonetheless, her dystopian fable has no bodily mutations. The characters, just the way they are, are the horror in their greed, duplicity and selfishness. A family dinner in a vaguely North American suburb implodes into a violent fight for survival when the wealthy patriarch's (Peter Gallagher) plan to join the suicide programme goes awry. A creepily cheery Department of Citizen Strategy representative (Enrico Colantoni) arrives at the manor for the appointed 'cadaver procurement', and the four adult children have two hours to decide whom among themselves to sacrifice before the armed agents do the choosing for them. The eldest (Jay Baruchel), an anthropologist, is a government propagandist. One sister (Emily Hampshire) is a snippy pharmaceutical executive under investigation for fraud. Another is a talentless actress (Alanna Bale) and the adopted sibling (Sebastian Chacon) is a recovering addict piano virtuoso. Inside the house over a single night, they turn against one another with every sharp instrument available. This is Caitlin Cronenberg's feature debut. It shows in the lack of both dramatic depth and visual flair, but the sociopolitical satire on class and privilege is blackly comic. Hot take: The Cronenberg family business continues to make a killing. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Pink Villa
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
BTS' SUGA's Burn It earns 100 million Spotify streams, making him the most-streamed Korean rapper
BTS' SUGA, also known by his solo stage name Agust D, has achieved yet another streaming milestone. On June 17, 2025, it was reported that his track Burn It featuring American artist MAX officially surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify. This achievement arrives just days before his official return from mandatory military service, scheduled for June 21. This makes the news even more meaningful for ARMYs around the world who are counting down to his discharge. One of Agust D's most defining works Released in May 2020 as part of his second solo mixtape D-2, Burn It is praised for its emotional intensity and unique sonic blend. The track mixes Korean rap and English vocals, with a powerful hook delivered by MAX. Lyrically, it tackles themes of personal destruction, self-reinvention, and the hope that rises from the ashes of inner turmoil. Now, five years later, the song continues to resonate deeply with listeners across generations and cultures. This proves its staying power with this massive streaming feat. The 14th song in SUGA's 100-million club SUGA now shares the title of Korean rapper with the highest number of songs exceeding 100 million streams on Spotify. With Burn It joining the list, he now has 14 songs (12 as a soloist) that have hit the same benchmark. This includes: Eight (with IU) Daechwita Blueberry Eyes (with MAX) Trivia: Seesaw That That (with PSY) Interlude: Shadow People People Pt.2 (with IU) Haegeum Lilith (with Halsey) So Far Away Girl of My Dreams (with Juice WRLD) SUGA's Interlude (with Halsey) and now, Burn It Fans celebrate his achievement Burn It isn't just a song! It's a symbol of Agust D 's raw introspection and the duality of light and dark that defines his artistry. Fans are celebrating the achievement not just because of the numbers. It also reflects the emotional connection that SUGA builds with his audience. Across online platforms, ARMYs have been flooding timelines with praise for the song and its continued success. What's next for SUGA? This streaming milestone also comes with added anticipation, as SUGA is set to complete his military service on June 21, 2025. Having enlisted on September 22, 2023, SUGA was assigned to alternative civilian service due to his previous shoulder surgery. While other BTS members served in active duty, SUGA completed his enlistment through a public service route. He is the last member of BTS to be discharged, following the returns of Jin, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. Prior to his enlistment, SUGA gifted fans with his first full-length solo album, D-Day. It's the final installment of the Agust D trilogy. Now, fans are hopeful that new music, a BTS comeback, and solo appearances might be on the horizon.
