Accessibility links
Boeing, Whistleblowers, And Consumer Concern Over Airplane Safety : 1A In less than two months, two whistleblowers who came forward about Boeing's unsafe production standards have died. Then on Tuesday, an emergency slide that fell off a plane mid-air was found near the residence of a lawyer who was already suing the company.

While flying over Oregon, a piece of a Boeing 737 MAX came off mid-flight. There were no fatalities, but an audit by the Federal Aviation Administration found dozens of issues in the manufacturing process. This led to two senate panel hearings on Boeing's safety culture, where more whistleblowers came forward.

So, how concerned should consumers be about airplane safety? What is being done to prevent further incidents? And can Boeing turn things around?

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

1A

Boeing, Whistleblowers, And Consumer Concern Over Airplane Safety

Boeing, Whistleblowers, And Consumer Concern Over Airplane Safety

Listen · 34:05
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198911124/1249772563" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Enlarge this image

This picture shows a view of the fuselage and one of the engines of a Boeing 777-9 jetliner aircraft on the tarmac during the 2023 Dubai Airshow at Dubai World Central – Al-Maktoum International Airport in Dubai. GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

This picture shows a view of the fuselage and one of the engines of a Boeing 777-9 jetliner aircraft on the tarmac during the 2023 Dubai Airshow at Dubai World Central – Al-Maktoum International Airport in Dubai.

GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

Boeing has had a rough 2024 so far. And their troubles don't look like they're stopping anytime soon.

In less than two months, two whistleblowers who came forward about Boeing's unsafe production standards have died. Then on Tuesday, an emergency slide that fell off a plane mid-air was found near the residence of a lawyer who was already suing the company.

While flying over Oregon, a piece of a Boeing 737 MAX came off mid-flight. There were no fatalities, but an audit by the Federal Aviation Administration found dozens of issues in the manufacturing process. This led to two senate panel hearings on Boeing's safety culture, where more whistleblowers came forward.

So, how concerned should consumers be about airplane safety? What is being done to prevent further incidents? And can Boeing turn things around?

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.