In Senate testimony on Tuesday, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun plans to apologize for Boeing’s recent safety failures and admit to problems with its safety culture. However, he will push back on claims that the company retaliated against whistleblowers who brought safety issues to light.
“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,” Calhoun stated in prepared remarks released by Boeing on Monday.
Boeing has been under intense scrutiny since a January 5 Alaska Air Boeing 737 Max flight had a door plug blow off, causing a hole in the plane.
The Senate’s permanent subcommittee on investigations will hold a hearing on Tuesday, marking Calhoun’s first testimony in his more than four years as CEO. At a previous hearing, Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour testified that Boeing is putting out defective planes due to pressure not to raise concerns.
Calhoun denies these claims, stating, “We are committed to making sure every employee feels empowered to speak up if there is a problem,” according to his prepared remarks.
He begins his remarks with an apology to the families of the victims of two fatal 737 Max crashes, acknowledging their losses. Calhoun also apologizes to the passengers of the Alaska Air flight in January, expressing regret for the impact of the accident and gratitude to the pilots and crew for safely landing the plane.
This may be Calhoun’s only testimony on Capitol Hill, as he plans to retire before the year ends. His successor has not yet been selected.
