Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun testified before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations on June 18, 2024, as senators examined aircraft manufacturing quality, whistleblower allegations and the company’s safety culture. In prepared testimony, he apologized to crash victims’ families and described Boeing’s corrective steps. Those statements were Boeing’s account of its response—not independent confirmation that the measures were complete or that the issues had been resolved.
What was the June 18 Boeing hearing about?
The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations listed the hearing for 2:00 p.m. at the Hart Senate Office Building under the title “Boeing’s Broken Safety Culture: CEO Dave Calhoun Testifies.” The witness was David Calhoun, then Boeing’s president and CEO. Senate hearing information
Senators examined safety and quality in Boeing’s commercial-aircraft manufacturing, the handling of employee concerns, management responsibility and whistleblower allegations. The hearing followed heightened scrutiny after Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, in which a door plug came out of a Boeing 737-9 MAX on January 5, 2024, causing rapid depressurization.
What did Calhoun tell senators about Boeing’s safety culture?
In written testimony published on the hearing date, Calhoun acknowledged shortcomings and described actions Boeing said it was taking. He wrote, “Our culture is far from perfect, but we are taking action and making progress.” He also said, “Nothing is more important than the safety of the people who step on board our airplanes.” Calhoun’s prepared testimony
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Calhoun apologized to the families of people killed in Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, and expressed regret over Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. His remarks conveyed Boeing’s position; they should not be read as independent findings about the causes of those incidents.
He described several elements of the company’s response:
- Plant stand-downs and employee listening sessions.
- Engagement of an independent quality expert.
- A comprehensive safety and quality action plan.
- A stated policy that employees should be able to raise concerns and that retaliation was prohibited.
These were claims and commitments in Calhoun’s testimony, not proof in themselves of implementation or results.
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What concerns did senators raise?
Subcommittee chair Richard Blumenthal’s opening statement framed the hearing as an examination of Boeing’s safety culture and management. He cited a disclosure by Boeing quality assurance inspector Sam Mohawk concerning the alleged handling of nonconforming parts at the Renton facility. That was an allegation relayed in the chair’s statement, not a final investigative determination. Blumenthal’s opening statement
Blumenthal said, “Boeing needs to stop thinking about the next earnings call and start thinking about the next generation.” The remark expressed the senator’s criticism; it was not a regulatory finding.
What had the FAA said about its oversight?
FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker gave separate testimony to the Senate Commerce Committee on June 13, 2024. He said the FAA grounded affected 737-9 MAX aircraft after Flight 1282, increased inspections and onsite oversight, limited Boeing’s production expansion, and directed the company to prepare a comprehensive plan addressing production and quality concerns. Whitaker’s June 13 testimony
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Whitaker said he directed Boeing in February to submit the plan within 90 days, and that Boeing provided it to the FAA on May 30. He emphasized that submission began implementation work; it did not end heightened oversight. He also described requirements and Boeing commitments involving its Safety Management System, training, employee communication, supplier and quality oversight, production procedures, and management of tools and parts. These are the administrator’s descriptions as of June 13, not verification of later completion or current performance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do the FAA whistleblower complaint figures mean?
In later written responses included in a Senate transcript, the FAA reported 213 whistleblower complaints for fiscal year 2024. Of those, 80 qualified as complaints of prohibited discrimination under section 42121. The responses say retaliation investigations are the Department of Labor’s responsibility. These are complaint counts, not counts of proven retaliation. Senate transcript with FAA responses
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How to read the different accounts
- Boeing’s account: Calhoun described apologies, internal actions and a safety and quality plan in prepared testimony.
- Senators’ criticism and cited disclosures: Blumenthal raised concerns and relayed an inspector’s allegation; the cited statement does not adjudicate it.
- Regulatory oversight: Whitaker described FAA actions and Boeing’s plan submission as of June 13, 2024, while saying increased oversight would continue.
The June 18 appearance was a hearing, not a final determination resolving every allegation or establishing that Boeing’s corrective measures had succeeded. The prepared testimony also should not be mistaken for a transcript of Calhoun’s oral answers to individual senators’ questions.
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