Recently, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal initiated a hearing against Boeing, titled "Moment of Reckoning."
At this meeting, various improper behaviors of Boeing were exposed, including using unqualified parts and deceiving regulatory authorities by concealing information.
Additionally, Boeing's executives' high salaries and retaliatory actions against whistleblowers were strongly criticized by several senators.
As more insider information is revealed, what fate will Boeing face?
What far-reaching impacts will this "Moment of Reckoning" bring? Let's wait and see!
The trigger for this hearing can be traced back to the two consecutive 737 MAX 8 plane crashes in 2018 and 2019, plunging Boeing into an unprecedented trust crisis.
This hearing is considered a thorough reckoning against Boeing.
Firstly, various improper behaviors in Boeing's manufacturing process were exposed and severely criticized.
Boeing was accused of transferring unqualified parts to hidden locations and falsifying records to deceive the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Even worse, Boeing couldn't even trace the final destination of a large number of parts transferred to evade regulation, which might have been installed on some aircraft, posing a significant safety hazard.
Moreover, Boeing's retaliatory actions against internal whistleblowers were not uncommon.
For instance, John Barnett, a former quality manager at Boeing's South Carolina plant, testified that he received over 20 threatening calls a day from a supervisor saying, "I'll keep pressuring you until you break."
This severe retaliation indicates Boeing's top management's tough stance on whistleblowers, trying to silence them forever.
The high salaries of Boeing's executives also became a focus of senators' attacks.
For example, Boeing's CEO Dave Calhoun's 2023 compensation was as high as $32.8 million, a 45% increase from $22.6 million in 2022.
This shocking increase in compensation, amid the company's credibility collapse and widespread scandals, is truly astonishing.
Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri openly criticized Calhoun at the hearing, accusing him of plundering the company while earning high compensation and questioning why he didn't resign.
As a well-known anti-China politician, Josh Hawley's attack on Boeing at this time seems to have political considerations.
As early as May this year, the U.S. Department of Justice pointed out that Boeing violated the 2021 settlement agreement and required Boeing to formally respond by June 13.
If eventually deemed in breach of the agreement, Boeing might face formal litigation from the U.S. government after July 7, turning its "Moment of Reckoning" into a criminal case.
In May this year, two former Boeing employees and whistleblowers, John Barnett and Joshua Deane, died mysteriously at home.
If their deaths are related to Boeing, this "Moment of Reckoning" will be dragged into an even darker abyss.
At the hearing, victim family member Clarice Moore shouted at Calhoun, "I want them in jail," expressing the family's anger.
Facing such fierce public criticism and doubts, Boeing indeed finds itself in an unprecedented "Moment of Reckoning."
At the hearing, CEO Dave Calhoun had to bow his head and admit mistakes, acknowledging the company's retaliation against whistleblowers, but he did not disclose specific numbers, showing some reservation.
This ambiguous attitude caused more distrust and suspicion.
Senator Blumenthal, who chaired the hearing, straightforwardly said he had a lot of evidence, enough for the U.S. Department of Justice to sue Boeing.
"As a former federal prosecutor and state attorney general, I think the evidence is almost overwhelming," he said.
These words undoubtedly cast a time bomb on Boeing.
When it will explode and what the consequences will be is difficult to predict at this point.
But it is certain that Boeing's "Moment of Reckoning" will intensify step by step, and the pains will become increasingly severe.
Boeing has fallen into an unprecedented crisis of public opinion and reputation.
As a globally renowned aviation giant, once embroiled in a criminal lawsuit, its dominant position in the civil aviation market will be at stake.
If found to have deliberately concealed major safety hazards, leading to significant casualties, Boeing's executives might face jail time.
This situation is extremely rare.
As the world's second-largest aircraft manufacturer, Boeing is also an important pillar industry in the U.S. and a flagship enterprise in the civil aviation industry.
Once caught in a public opinion crisis and legal disputes, the consequences are unimaginable, and its ripple effects might affect the overall development of the U.S. aviation industry.
Therefore, it is understandable why some anti-China politicians in U.S. politics, such as Blumenthal and Josh Hawley, are relentlessly attacking Boeing at this time.
They may be using the opportunity to attack Boeing, possibly hiding political intentions and calculations behind their actions.
Blumenthal is a well-known anti-China hawk who has repeatedly pushed anti-China bills.
This time, he is once again making headlines, obviously to gain more political capital for the upcoming election.
Josh Hawley, on the other hand, hopes to gain some leverage for future battles against China by bringing down Boeing.
Of course, these are just speculations and opinions. It is still difficult to distinguish what is fact and what is fiction.
But it is certain that this "Moment of Reckoning" is a severe test for Boeing.
Facing potential criminal charges and the worst-case scenario of executives going to jail, Boeing must act in the future, rebuild its public image, and regain confidence to navigate through this difficult period.
Looking ahead, although Boeing will experience short-term difficulties, as long as it diligently performs its duties, it will eventually get through this "Moment of Reckoning" crisis.
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