Three senior Boeing executives including its CEO are stepping down, the company said Monday, as the company continues to deal with an ongoing scandal surrounding the safety of its passenger jets.
CEO Dave Calhoun confirmed he was leaving the company in a statement, along with Stan Deal, the CEO and president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and Chairman Larry Kellner, who will not stand for reelection at the next shareholders’ annual meeting.
“President and CEO Dave Calhoun today announced his decision to step down as CEO at the end of 2024, and he will continue to lead Boeing through the year to complete the critical work underway to stabilize and position the company for the future,” Boeing said in a statement.
The company has been mired in a succession of negative stories since a door panel blew out on a Boeing 737 Max plane flown by Alaska Airlines in January.
Despite Boeing announcing a range of measures to improve safety and committing to working with federal investigators, some passengers have spoken of feeling nervous climbing on board its aircraft.
In a letter to staff, posted on the Boeing website, Calhoun acknowledged that the Alaska Airlines incident had changed the company.
“As you all know, the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 accident was a watershed moment for Boeing,” he wrote. “We must continue to respond to this accident with humility and complete transparency. We also must inculcate a total commitment to safety and quality at every level of our company.”
“The eyes of the world are on us,” he said, referring to ongoing efforts to reassure both the company’s airline customers and the flying public that its aircraft are safe.
The fallout from that fateful flight shows no sign of stopping: The FBI informed passengers last week that they may have been the victims of a crime which the bureau is still investigating.
This is a developing story, check back here for updates soon
