Crash of Boeing jet in Iran adds to company’s pressure
Still reeling from a crisis involving its long-grounded Max jet, Boeing faces new questions after an earlier model of the 737 crashed Wednesday in Iran.
It is too early to know what caused the crash and whether Boeing bears any responsibility for the lives of all 176 people who died aboard the 3½-year-old plane.
At a minimum, however, the disaster will add to the burden facing Boeing’s incoming CEO, David Calhoun, as he tries to repair the iconic airplane maker’s reputation.
“We need to know the cause,” said William Waldock, a safety science professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. “If it turns out to be an intentional act, that’s not something [Boeing] can control. If it was something with the plane, there is one more item they have to get fixed.”
Even experts who discount the likelihood of a problem with the plane — a version of the 737 that has been built since the 1990s and has earned a good safety record — say that Boeing’s public image will suffer.
“I think everyone will quickly realize that there is very little chance, if any, that this has anything to do with the design or manufacture of the jet,” said Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst with Teal Group in the Washington, D.C., suburbs. “But people are going to see ‘737 Destroyed.’ How do you quantify that in terms of reputational damage?”
Boeing officials hunkered down on Wednesday, not saying much publicly after a 737-800 flown by Ukraine International Airlines crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran’s main airport.
The company issued short statements saying it was gathering more information and was ready to help the Ukrainian airline in any way.
“This is a tragic event, and our heartfelt thoughts are with the crew, passengers, and their families,” Boeing said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed his government will get answers about the crash that killed at least 63 Canadians. Trudeau said 138 passengers on the flight were connecting to Canada.
The flight included many international students who were studying at universities across Canada.
Authorities said they found the plane’s so-called black boxes. But given the near state of war between Iran and the U.S., it was not immediately clear whether the Iranians would share the devices with investigators from the United States and its allies.
The crash occurred hours after Iran launched missiles at U.S. forces in neighboring Iraq, leading to speculation by aviation experts that the plane might have been shot down. Iranian officials were quick to blame the disaster on a mechanical problem with the plane, although they cited no evidence.
In Washington, U.S. officials briefing members of Congress on the current tension between the United States and Iran said there was no intelligence to indicate that the plane was shot down, according to a lawmaker at the briefing.
Asked if he could say whether the plane was shot down, Trudeau said: “I cannot. It’s too early to speculate.”
Boeing has sold nearly 5,000 737800s since the late 1990s. There have been eight fatal crashes, most blamed on pilot error, according to Aviation Safety Network, which tracks accidents. That’s a far lower fatal-accident rate than many other popular planes, including previous 737s and the Max.