Boeing dismisses Ed Clark, the 737 MAX program leader, because to safety concerns
Following a door panel blowout on a flight over Oregon, which raised concerns about the business’s safety, Boeing said on Wednesday that the leader of its 737 aircraft program is leaving the company as part of a management shake-up.
Ed Clark, who had managed the 737 program since early 2021 and had worked for the firm for almost eighteen years, announced his immediate departure from Boeing.
Clark was in charge of the Renton, Washington, facility that handled final assembly for the Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 that was involved in the crash last month. Following the plane’s repairs, fasteners that were supposed to hold a panel known as a door plug in place were reported missing by federal authorities.
According to an email from Stan Deal, the CEO of Boeing’s commercial aviation business, Katie Ringgold, a vice president in charge of delivering 737s to airlines, will take over from Clark as vice president and general manager of the 737 program and the Renton facility.
In addition, the business announced the hiring of Elizabeth Lund, a veteran employee, to the new role of senior vice president for the quality of commercial aircraft.
Deal informed personnel via email that the actions are a part of the company’s “enhanced focus on ensuring that every airplane we deliver meets or exceeds all quality and safety requirements.” “Our customers expect nothing less, and they deserve it.”
Regulators, Congress, and airlines are now closely examining Boeing as a result of the panel explosion on the Alaska Airlines Max 9.
In order to check the emergency door panels, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all Max 9 aircraft in the US for almost three weeks. Additionally, the government is restricting Boeing’s manufacturing until other quality issues are addressed. Boeing is not focusing sufficiently on safety, according to FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker, as the company works to increase production in order to satisfy airline demand.
The two US airlines impacted by the Max 9 grounding, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, released statements from their CEOs expressing their indignation and dissatisfaction with the business. They enquired as to Boeing’s plans for raising the caliber of its production.
David Calhoun, CEO of Boeing, said on January 31 that “we caused the problem and we understand that.” “We will endeavor to gain their trust, and we comprehend the reasons behind their ire.”
According to Calhoun, the business has stepped up inspections at its facilities and suppliers, assigned a former Navy admiral to oversee quality control, and closed the 737 assembly line for a day to allow employees to have a quality and safety discussion.
The outrage directed on Boeing has escalated to a degree not seen since the fatal accidents of two Max 8 aircraft in Ethiopia and Indonesia in 2018 and 2019. The former CEO of Boeing was fired as a result of the accidents, which claimed 346 lives.
The Boeing Co.’s stock, which is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, ended the day down by 1%. Since the door rupture, they have lost 19% of their stock market value, or almost $27 billion.
