Air India Crash Casts Fresh Spotlight on Boeing Amid Ongoing Safety Scrutiny

The crash of an Air India Express flight in Ahmedabad has placed Boeing under renewed public scrutiny, even as investigators have yet to determine whether the company’s aircraft played any role in the tragedy.

The aircraft involved in the crash was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner – a model that, until now, had maintained a solid safety record and had recently celebrated its billionth passenger milestone. The Dreamliner, introduced just 14 years ago, has been a key player in long-haul aviation, known for fuel efficiency and passenger comfort.

While there is currently no indication of a technical fault on Boeing’s part, the incident adds to a growing list of challenges for the U.S. plane manufacturer. Authorities are awaiting the analysis of the plane’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders to determine what caused the crash. Aviation experts have cautioned that, in most modern crashes, human error is more often the cause than mechanical failure – though Boeing’s troubled past inevitably invites attention.

The company is still recovering from the reputational damage inflicted by two fatal crashes involving its 737 Max model in 2018 and 2019, which led to the deaths of 346 people and an 18-month global grounding of the aircraft. Those incidents were linked to a faulty automated flight control system, sparking multiple lawsuits and regulatory investigations.

Though the Air India crash involves a different aircraft model, the incident has reignited concerns about Boeing’s safety practices. Following the crash, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg expressed condolences to the victims’ families and pledged full cooperation with India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.

News of the crash rattled investors. Boeing’s share price dipped nearly 5% when markets closed in New York on Thursday – reflecting not only the emotional weight of the crash but broader concerns about the company’s trajectory.

Boeing has had a rough ride in recent years. It reported nearly $1 billion in monthly losses last year, faced a 7-week workers’ strike, and battled fallout from an incident in early 2024 when a door panel detached mid-air on an Alaska Airlines flight, prompting $160 million in compensation payouts. The firm also paid Southwest Airlines $428 million to settle claims tied to the prolonged grounding of 737 Max jets.

Internal whistleblower claims have further complicated Boeing’s public image. Former employees have alleged pressure to overlook quality concerns, with some even accusing the company of knowingly installing sub-standard parts. Boeing has denied the claims but acknowledged a fivefold increase in internal reporting – something it views as progress in building a safer, more transparent work culture.

In April, the company narrowly avoided criminal prosecution by agreeing to a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice. Boeing admitted to obstructing a federal investigation into the 737 Max crashes and agreed to pay over $1.1 billion in fines, a move that disappointed many families of the crash victims.

Leadership shakeups have followed. Kelly Ortberg, who was brought out of retirement to lead the company, has promised cultural change and a renewed focus on safety and quality. He remains confident in Boeing’s future, recently stating that he expects the firm to return to profitability soon.

Now, with the world watching closely once again, Ortberg faces yet another crisis that could test those promises.