So, Boeing’s been hit hard after a scary incident in the US where a piece of a plane went poof mid-air. One of their 737 Max 9 planes flown by Alaska Airlines had a cabin panel tear off, sending it for an emergency landing. Not great for Boeing’s shares—they dropped 8%. Even their supplier, Spirit Aerosystems, took a hit with an 11% fall.
Safety Storm
This mess adds to the pile of concerns Boeing’s already facing. Safety officials put a hold on jets that the same door plug as the one that had the blowout. It’s not just this one incident, though. Boeing’s been struggling after two big crashes with a different model, the Max 8, that shook confidence in the company’s planes, causing the loss of 346 lives.
Boeing started cooking up the 737 Max back in 2011 to be more fuel-efficient for shorter flights. It’s a popular choice for airlines, but lately, it’s been hit with electrical glitches, loose bolts, and other problems. Spirit AeroSystems, their supplier, has had its hands dirty in some of these issues too.
Trouble Spree
Before this mid-air emergency, there already eyebrows raised about Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems’ track record. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground 171 out of the 200-plus 737 Max 9 planes for a check-up. That led to a bunch of flights by airlines like Alaska and United getting cancel.
United found some hiccups during their checks—stuff like bolts needing a bit of tightening. That news didn’t do Boeing or Spirit any favors; their stocks took a hit in trading.
Supply Snags and Scrutiny
There’s a bigger picture here too. The aviation industry’s been juggling supply chain problems, struggling to get planes out on time. That’s put pressure on Boeing and others to speed up.
Analysts reckon that maybe Boeing’s drop the ball on something for the past couple of years, and they not quite fix it yet. It’s like the industry’s taking a closer look at Boeing once again.
Boeing’s defending itself, saying this problem isn’t a thing on other Max jets, and they’re all about safety, working hand-in-hand with regulators.
Spirit AeroSystems, the guys who made and put in the part that went wonky, just got a new CEO in October. They’re all about quality and standing by Boeing, saying they’re focused on making sure the stuff they build for planes is top-notch.
More on the Drama
This troubled plane given the green light to fly and in service for a few months. Alaska Airlines notice some issues with pressure and had kept it away from long flights over water.
Ever since the 2018 and 2019 crashes, Airbus has been soaring high, becoming the top dog in plane sales, leaving Boeing behind.
The French company’s stocks went up by more than 3% in trading on Monday. Airbus seems to be cashing in while Boeing’s caught up in turbulence.
