With several incidents this year tarnishing its reputation, TNS Times takes a look at the past and future of the world’s largest aerospace company.
SUMMARY: Although Boeing has led the aerospace industry for many years, rival company Airbus seems to be catching up after several disastrous accidents.
In the early months of this year, Boeing faced several incidents that have raised questions about the future of this aerospace company. Occurring in the first few months of the year, these incidents have impacted not only Boeing's reputation but also its stability and financial aspects.
Here are some of the major incidents involving Boeing aircraft that happened this year, some of which caused airport delays:
- 5 Jan: Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a Boeing 737 Max 9, had to perform an emergency landing after a door ripped off midair. Luckily, nobody was seriously hurt. Following the incident, Alaska Airlines grounded all its 737-9 MAX aircrafts for nearly a month.
- 18 Jan: Just 13 days later, another Boeing 737 aircraft suffered a hydraulic system failure that resulted in landing gear problems. The flight landed safely, but the incident added to growing concerns about the reliability of the ageing aircraft model.
- 19 Jan: According to FlightAware, a digital aviation company, an Atlas Air cargo flight was in the air for just 14 minutes after takeoff. The incident apparently started about three minutes into the flight. The crew reported an engine fire, according to air traffic recordings. A “post flight inspection revealed a softball size hole above (the) #2 engine,” an FAA incident report says.
- 24 Jan: A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 passenger jet lost one of its nose wheels on the runway before takeoff. Passengers were put on a replacement flight.
- 9 Feb: A cargo flight using an older Boeing 747 model reported a severe drop in cabin pressure, forcing the aircraft to descend rapidly before stabilising.
- 7 Mar: A Boeing 737 MAX, part of a fleet that had recently returned to service after a global grounding, had to make an unscheduled landing due to electrical problems. This raised fresh concerns about the 737 MAX, which had been grounded for nearly two years earlier following two fatal crashes.
- 11 Mar: A Boeing 787 operated by LATAM Airlines suddenly dropped out of the air, sending passengers into the roof of the aircraft and injuring 50 people.
- 15 Mar: A Boeing 787 Dreamliner experienced a software malfunction that affected its navigation systems during a long-haul flight. The flight crew managed to reset the systems and land the aircraft safely, but this incident added to ongoing worries about the complexity and reliability of Boeing’s newer electronic systems.
So, is it over for Boeing? Well, it really depends. Boeing's diverse portfolio, which includes defence, space, and security systems, provides financial stability and opportunities for growth outside the commercial aviation sector. However, it seems like Airbus, whose planes are much more safe and also more reliable, is rapidly catching up with Boeing. For example, the Airbus A350 and A380 are remarkable testaments to Airbus's quality standards.
Boeing is in the lead for now, but who knows when Airbus will catch up?
Written by Li Xinyuan, edited by Goh Jun Ying
(TNS Times Issue 9)