Three senior executives at Boeing, including its chief executive officer, are stepping down from the company after significant safety concerns and a federal investigation into its aircrafts.
CEO Dave Calhoun will leave the company by the end of the year, while the CEO and president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Stan Deal, has retired effective immediately. Larry Kellner, the company’s board of directors chair, will not run for re-election at the next shareholders’ annual meeting and will be succeed by board member Steve Mollenkopf, former Qualcomm CEO.
Boeing’s safety issues began when a door panel blew out on a Boeing 737 Max in January. Last week, the FBI told passengers on that Alaska Airlines flight that they might be victims of a crime.
“As you all know, the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 accident was a watershed moment for Boeing,” wrote Calhoun in a letter to staff that was posted on the Boeing website. “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.”
After the incident, Boeing announced a variety of tactics it would implement to improve safety. However, passengers have reported feeling concerned about traveling on Boeing aircrafts.
