Boeing news covering 737 MAX, 787 and defense programs, safety and quality issues, commercial aviation, and Boeing's turnaround efforts.
Boeing's engineering and technician unions rejected the latest contract offer, citing deep mistrust of management, job relocations, and quality concerns. The deal would have raised average designer pay by nearly 30 percent over four years. Boeing is now activating contingency plans to maintain aircraft deliveries if the professional workforce walks off the job after the October 6 expiration.
Boeing engineers and tech workers have rejected the company's latest contract offer despite union endorsement citing significant wage increases. Citing historical mistrust from the McDonnell Douglas merger, members voted against the deal. Boeing vice president Ben Nimmergut confirmed the company is now implementing a contingency plan to prepare for a potential strike as the current contract expires on October 6.
The National reviews Netflix's Freefall, arguing that Boeing's culture of prioritizing profit over safety persists. The commentary highlights whistle-blower John Barnett's death and manufacturing defects as evidence that the company failed to learn from past crashes.
Boeing is advancing repairs on cracked structural supports, with 21 stringer repairs remaining on the first jet and 104 of 300 replaced on the second. The program has incurred over $3 billion in charges due to complexity, while interior design delays and staffing shortages continue to threaten the mid-2028 delivery date.
Rolling Stone reports on Rory Kennedy's documentary Freefall, which argues that Boeing prioritized profit over safety through corporate mandates. The piece highlights whistleblower allegations and the tragic death of engineer John Barnett as evidence of systemic cultural failures within the US aerospace manufacturer.
The US State Department authorized a $4.5 billion deal for Qatar to acquire Boeing KC-46A aerial refueling tankers, including eight PW4062 engines and countermeasure systems. The notification to Congress was issued on August 20, amid regional tensions involving Iran's recent missile and drone attacks on Gulf states.