What Happened to The Boeing Company?

The Boeing Company, a titan in aerospace manufacturing, has endured a tumultuous period since the late 2010s, largely stemming from safety and quality control issues. The crisis began with two fatal crashes of its 737 MAX aircraft in October 2018 and March 2019, which led to a worldwide grounding of the fleet and severe reputational and financial damage. This period exposed significant flaws in Boeing's design, certification processes, and a perceived shift from engineering-led culture to one prioritizing financial metrics.

Further compounding its woes, a mid-air door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 in January 2024 brought renewed intense scrutiny from regulators, particularly the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Investigations revealed manufacturing lapses, including missing bolts, leading to increased FAA oversight and a cap on 737 MAX production rates. This incident triggered a significant leadership shake-up, with CEO Dave Calhoun announcing his resignation by the end of 2024, followed by the appointment of aerospace veteran Kelly Ortberg as the new President and CEO, effective August 8, 2024.

Under Ortberg's leadership, Boeing has focused on operational stability and quality improvements. The company reported its first full-year net profit since 2018 in 2025, reaching $2.24 billion, a significant turnaround from an $11.83 billion net loss in 2024. This profitability was substantially aided by asset sales, including a $9.6 billion gain from the partial sale of its Digital Aviation Solutions business. Commercial aircraft deliveries also saw a notable increase in 2025, with 600 planes delivered, the highest annual total since 2018. The FAA approved an increase in the 737 MAX production rate to 42 aircraft per month in October 2025, with plans for further increases in 2026, and the 787 Dreamliner program also aimed for higher production rates.

As of April 16, 2026, Boeing continues its recovery trajectory. In the first quarter of 2026, Boeing delivered 143 commercial aircraft, slightly surpassing rival Airbus in deliveries for the quarter. The company has also secured substantial defense contracts, including a $12.8 billion deal in January 2026 for E-4B services and F-15s for Israel, and a $2.3 billion contract in March 2026 for the E-7A Rapid Prototype Airborne Mission Segment. However, challenges remain, particularly with its Starliner crew capsule program. Following a problematic Crew Flight Test in June 2024 and the uncrewed return of the spacecraft in September 2024, NASA officially classified the mission as a Type A mishap in February 2026. The next Starliner mission, Starliner-1, is now planned as an uncrewed cargo flight no earlier than April 2026, to validate system upgrades. The FAA continues to maintain rigorous oversight, with its Administrator stating in February 2026 that Boeing still needs to do more to regain full certification authority. Boeing is also expanding its satellite production capacity, targeting 26 satellite deliveries in 2026.