The Repercussions of Recent Airline Accidents & Incidents on the Boeing Company

The Boeing Company, United States-based and the world’s largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer, serves commercial jetliners, as well as defense, space, and security systems companies. However, in recent years, the company has faced scrutiny regarding its safety culture, stemming from numerous crashes involving their Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. This research will analyze crashes like the fatal Lion Air Flight 610, which crashed into the Java Sea, killing all 189 passengers and crew on October 29, 2018, and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which crashed near Ejere, Ethiopia, killing all 157 on board on March 10, 2019. The legal actions of aviation governing agencies, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), taken against The Boeing Company following these accidents and others, like the grounding of aircraft and capping of aircraft production will also be examined in this research. Studies show that following these legal actions, The Boeing Company has lost over $25 billion in revenue since 2019, and the company’s main competitor, Airbus had more commercial aircraft deliveries in 2024, surpassing Boeing by approximately one hundred and forty-seven aircraft. Hence, the impact of the legal actions taken by the governing agencies on Boeing’s deliveries, revenue, consumer trust and union trust like that of the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA), and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) will be discussed. Overall, the research highlights the critical need for effective oversight and the lessons learned from Boeing’s shortcomings to inform future regulatory practices.