Boeing CEO Faces Senate on Safety Missteps

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg is set to testify before the Senate Commerce Committee, acknowledging the company's 'serious missteps' in safety and quality, particularly highlighted by a January 2024 incident involving a 737 MAX 9. Ortberg, who became CEO in August, plans to outline Boeing's sweeping changes in response, aimed at overhauling its culture and improving safety standards. The testimony comes amid heightened scrutiny following two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people, and recent regulatory actions, including a production cap. Lawmakers, including Senator Maria Cantwell, are expected to press Ortberg on Boeing's past decisions, such as withdrawing a guilty plea related to the crashes, and on Boeing's ongoing federal conspiracy case. The company's efforts to restore its reputation as a 'great American manufacturer' are being closely watched, especially in light of recent safety concerns. Ortberg emphasizes Boeing's commitment to learning from past errors and transforming its internal culture.