Boeing’s current crisis gets worse as yet another plane under its flag is in the news for all the negative reasons. The recent fatal accident of an Air India 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad has once again brought into focus concerns about the safety and dependability of Boeing’s planes — causing shock waves across the aviation sector and the shares of the company tumbling down almost 8% during a single trading day.
This newest incident adds to the troubled history of the American aerospace giant, which is still grappling with the fallout of its 737 MAX tragedies that took hundreds of lives. While the 787 Dreamliner had once been the face of innovation and efficiency in long-distance travel, events in recent times have left a blot on that reputation, with analysts raising questions on Boeing’s quality control and long-term responsibility.
The crash, involving 242 people shortly after takeoff, has provoked widespread outrage and grief. Investigations are pending, but speculation early on about mechanical fault has shrouded Boeing’s engineering standards in doubt. Financial analysts predict that if faith in the company continues to be lost, Boeing may be plunged into a full-blown reputation and regulatory crisis on international markets.
With increasing scrutiny, India’s aviation regulators, the U.S., and EU have all committed to jointly reviewing Boeing aircraft already in the skies on a comprehensive safety basis. Families of the dead, investors, and aviation monitors, however, are all left wondering the same thing: How many more warnings does Boeing need before genuine change takes flight?
