Boeing CEO admits company has been ‘far from perfect’ after a flood of safety lapses

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun will apologize for Boeing’s recent safety failures in Senate testimony Tuesday and admit to problems with its safety culture, but he’ll push back on claims of some whistleblowers that the company created the problems by retaliating against those who brought safety issues to light.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun plans to apologize for Boeing’s recent safety failures in Senate testimony Tuesday and admit to problems with its safety culture, but he’ll push back on claims of some whistleblowers that the company created the problems by retaliating against those who brought safety issues to light. “Much has been said about Boeing’s culture. We’ve heard those concerns loud and clear,” he will say in prepared remarks released by Boeing Monday afternoon. “Our culture is far from perfect, but we are taking action and making progress. We understand the gravity, and we are committed to moving forward.” The “far from perfect” remark is a massive understatement. Boeing has been under intense scrutiny with numerous federal investigations and congressional hearings since a January 5 Alaska Air Boeing 737 Max flight had a door plug blow off, leaving a gaping hole in both the plane and Boeing’s reputation. The hearing Tuesday by the Senate’s permanent subcommittee on investigations is just the latest Congressional hearing this year about safety issues at Boeing, but the first time Calhoun is testifying in his more than four years running the troubled company. At an April 17 hearing Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour testified that Boeing is putting out defective planes because he and others who complain faced pressure not to do so. “I have serious concerns about the safety of the 787 and 777 aircraft and I’m willing to take on professional risk to talk about them,” Salehpour said in his opening statement. He said when he raised concerns, “I was ignored. I was told not to create delays. I was told, frankly, to shut up.” Calhoun denies that is the case currently at Boeing in his prepared remarks.