The Boeing 777 is reported to be the world’s largest and most efficient jet. It is considered a unique plane due to its features. The plane has impressive range, fuel efficiency and provides passengers with great comfort. It can also hold a high capacity compared to other aircraft since it is 10 meters longer than standard models. The twin-engined plane is commonly referred to as the Triple Seven. The Boeing 777 model in particular has been produced since 1995. The American long-range aircraft is developed and manufactured by The Boeing Company. It is one of the most popular commercial aircrafts that Boeing offers, other than variations of the 737 (the Boeing 737-200 and 300, 737 MAX 8, 737-700 and 800).
The Boeing Company is a leading global aerospace developer, manufacturer and airplane servicer. It is the world’s second-largest defense company and aerospace business. It is a major U.S. exporter of commercial aircrafts yet has a global supplier base. The company has surely grown since it was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1916 by Bill Boeing and George Conrad.
Since the company is a leader in commercial aircraft and has had issues with safety, it is important for travelers to stay informed. Boeing has recently been under harsh scrutiny for endangering passengers with its problematic aircrafts, and the recent incident on March 11th, 2024, has only amplified growing concerns for passenger safety. The incident in Sydney, Australia, is still under investigation but is just one of five incidents involving Boeing planes in a single week. Issues have occurred with multiple models of Boeing aircrafts but most recently there have been problems with Boeing 737 MAX, 747, 757, 737 and 777 planes. This string of safety issues has significantly eroded public trust in the manufacturer. Here is what travelers should know about the recent trouble with Boeing before flying on one of their aircrafts.
The Boeing 777 Accident
The San Francisco-bound United flight left from Sydney, Australia but was forced to land around two hours after departure. A maintenance issue was the root of the problem and cause for the emergency landing. After returning to Sydney and a safe landing, the 167 passengers exited the plane. While United Airlines rebooked the passengers on a different flight to San Francisco and provided accommodations, it is easy to understand how alarming the situation is.
This was not United Airlines’ first issue with their planes, as there had been multiple incidents in one week that were all Boeing aircraft. These issues either resulted in the flight returning to the departure point or having to make an emergency landing. Some of these incidents have entailed the loss of wheels, hydraulics problems and engines catching on fire.
The March 11th incident was due to technical issues. The exact cause of the issue remains unknown, though it is clear that the plane had a fluid leakage. The leakage, which was captured on video, came from the Boeing 777-300’s undercarriage near the landing gear.
Boeing’s Safety History
There have been numerous incidents with Boeing aircrafts recently, with the first occurring on March 4th. Four Boeing aircrafts have had incidents in the US in a short time. This is raising eyebrows, especially considering the lead commercial aircraft manufacturers’ troubled past.
Its safety record has been under intense scrutiny since two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, which both involved the Boeing 737 MAX. But those incidents are not their only concerning (and criminally investigated) reports. An incident with Alaska Airlines involving the Boeing 737 MAX 9 occurred on January 5th, 2024. These tragic incidents were due to defects in software, design and manufacturing.
The Boeing Whistleblower Controversy
John Barnett, a former quality manager at Boeing for over 30 years, had raised concerns about manufacturing practices previously. The situation even escalated to the point of legal action, since he filed a lawsuit in which he claimed Boeing retaliated for his concerns about safety.
Barnett was supposed to participate in a deposition for the case in South Carolina on March 9th, but on the same day he was found dead. The sudden death (which appears to be a suicide) of the same whistleblower that exposed and questioned Boeing’s aircraft production is incredibly suspicious. The situation is being investigated for foul play, but of course detectives can not release too many details. Although this case was about 787 Dreamliner planes, this situation has gained global attention due to the issues that Boeing has encountered recently.
Impact on Boeing Flight Safety
These safety issues and accidents are not the first time Boeing has gotten in trouble with the law, as Travel Noire has previously reported. The two Boeing planes that had fatal crashes a few years ago were a result of deception on Boeing’s behalf. The deceptive conduct of Boeing employees was exposed and the company was charged with defrauding The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The company also agreed to pay a hefty fine of $2.5 billion.
Situations like this are the reason organizations like the FAA and The Department of Justice have to investigate instances that put passengers in danger. Organizations that promote safety actively develop and enforce standard safety protocols. The safety procedures help to regulate commercial space transportation, flight inspection standards and even suspending or revoking pilot certificates when necessary. While there are still some Boeing 777 aircrafts on major airline fleets, dangerous incidents like with the Sydney Boeing 777, in hindsight, help to crack down on flight safety.