Dave Calhoun, CEO of Boeing, Testified in the Senate

At the start of the hearing, Calhoun apologised to the audience, including victims of MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019

Then, answering the senators’ questions, the CEO said Boeing’s corporate culture was “far from perfect”.

Missouri Senator Josh Hawley said, “You are eliminating safety procedures. You are putting your employees in a difficult situation. You are reducing jobs because you are trying to get every profit you can from this company, you are robbing Boeing.”

Hawley also repeatedly mentioned Calhoun’s $32.8 million salary last year and asked the CEO why he did not resign.

CEO Calhoun said, “Senator, I’m going to see this through to the end, I’m proud to have accepted this job, I’m proud of our safety record, I’m proud of our Boeing employees.”

Senator Hawley said, “Frankly, I think it’s a disgrace that you’re still in your job.”

CEO Calhoun has stated that he will retire by the end of the year, but it is reported that he is having difficulty finding a replacement. Candidates who are offered the CEO position turn down the offer.

What Happened ❓

The company’s MAX series 2 aircraft crashed and 346 people lost their lives. While many shady incidents in the company were revealed, earlier this year, the door plug broke off from Alaska Airlines’ Boeing MAX 8 type aircraft during the cruise. As a result of the incidents, confidential whistleblowers, including many Boeing engineers, reported the company’s safety problems to the authorities.