WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Dave Calhoun, the outgoing CEO of Boeing, took tough questions from a U.S. Senate subcommittee.
Tuesday’s visit to Capitol Hill comes after more than a dozen whistleblowers went public with safety concerns. This marks Calhoun’s first appearance before lawmakers since a door plug blew off the side of a 737 MAX jet in January during an Alaska Airlines flight.
“We're here about accountability.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who chairs the committee, said. “It is a moment of reckoning for Boeing that will help Boeing in the long run because the only way to course correct is to face the truth and confront the need for action.”
Senators accused the company of taking manufacturing shortcuts and putting lives at risk.
“I think the truth is, Mr. Calhoun, you're not focused on safety,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) said. “You're not focused on quality. You're not focused on transparency. All of this is in the record, but I think actually, you're focused on exactly what you were hired to do, which is that you're cutting corners. You are eliminating safety procedures. You are sticking it to your employees. You are cutting back jobs because you're trying to squeeze every piece of profit you can out of this company. You're strip mining it you're strip mining Boeing.”
Calhoun pushed back, assuring the panel that passenger safety remains top of mind while also noting the challenges of maintaining a highly-skilled workforce in an industry where mistakes can have deadly outcomes.
“The post-COVID moment in the aerospace industry has been unbelievably difficult to navigate,” Calhoun, who plans to step down at the end of the year, said. “We have 10,000 suppliers, we put almost two and a half million parts into a 787 Boeing because it's big and it has resources. Even those restrained we were able to keep more than most but like you say we turned over a lot of people and yes, a lot of experienced people, our supply chain experienced enormous turnover.”
Despite two international crashes and a mid-air emergency on his watch, Calhoun said he takes pride in his team and his fleet.
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“I am proud of the safety record and of our Boeing people,” he said.
“You're proud of this safety record?” Hawley asked.
“I am proud of every action we have taken every action. Yes, sir," Calhoun said.
“Wow. I think the American public, when they fear to get on the airplanes, they understand your safety record. And frankly, sir, I think it's a travesty that you're still in your job,” Hawley said.
Calhoun also said he has listened to the whistleblower complaints but has not met personally with any of them. He also acknowledged that some Boeing employees have retaliated against workers who reported concerns and said some have either been fired or disciplined, though he did not say who or how many.
Bridgette Bjorlo is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at bbjorlo@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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