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Tag: Aviation Industry
June 12, 2025
News

Boeing Stock Plunges Following Deadly Crash.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff in India, reportedly exploding and killing all 242 people on board.

👥 Who’s Involved: The aircraft was operated by Air India, with passengers including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals.

📍 Where & When: The crash occurred in the Meghani Nagar area near Ahmedabad Airport at 1:38 PM local time (9:08 AM BST).

💬 Key Quote: A Boeing spokesman stated, “We are aware of initial reports and are working to gather more information.”

⚠️ Impact: Boeing’s shares fell as much as eight percent in pre-market trading, and this marks the first crash involving the 787 Dreamliner model.

IN FULL:

Shares in Boeing dropped sharply in pre-market trading on Thursday after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in India, reportedly exploding and leaving no survivors among the 242 people on board.

The flight, operated by Air India and bound for London Gatwick Airport, took off from Ahmedabad Airport before crashing in the Meghani Nagar area at 1:38 PM local time. According to Air India, 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese were among the passengers.

Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, director general of India’s Directorate of Civil Aviation, confirmed the timing and location of the tragic incident.

A Boeing spokesman commented, “We are aware of initial reports and are working to gather more information.”

This incident marks the first crash involving the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a model that first entered service in 2013. However, the aircraft faced issues early on, with its fleet temporarily grounded in 2013 due to fires linked to lithium-ion batteries in its power system.

The crash has reignited scrutiny of Boeing’s safety record, following high-profile incidents in recent years. In 2018, a Lion Air Boeing 737 Max crashed, killing 189 people, and in 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max crash claimed 157 lives. Both incidents led to the grounding of the 737 Max fleet worldwide.

Boeing’s shares fell by up to eight percent in pre-market trading on Thursday as news of the crash spread. The 787 Dreamliner is used by major airlines including British Airways, United Airlines, and Qatar Airways.

Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.

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February 26, 2025
News

American Airlines Jet Aborts DC Landing to Prevent Collision.

An American Airlines jet had to abort its landing at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., early Tuesday morning to prevent a potential collision with another aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the flight was nearing its descent at approximately 8:20 AM EST when the pilot noticed another plane preparing to take off from the same runway.

The pilot quickly decided to execute a go-around maneuver, ascending back into the air to maintain separation from the other aircraft. An official statement from the FAA explained that the action was necessary to ensure a safe distance between the two planes.

In another incident on the same day, a Southwest Airlines flight experienced a similar near-miss at Chicago Midway Airport. At 9:50 AM EST, Southwest Flight 2504, arriving from Omaha, was forced to pull up just before touching down. A smaller business jet, operated by Flexjet, had entered the runway without authorization. Initial FAA statements confirmed that this unauthorized runway entry prompted the abrupt go-around maneuver. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), along with the FAA, is investigating this incident. A Southwest Airlines representative confirmed that the crew adhered to safety protocols and the flight landed without issues.

These incidents underscore growing worries about aviation safety amid recent air travel incidents. Earlier on Tuesday, a United Airlines flight made an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport following a suspected mechanical issue. On Monday, a Delta Air Lines flight had to return to Atlanta after a cabin haze prompted an emergency landing.

Tragically, 67 individuals died in early February after a U.S. military black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines passenger jet preparing to land at Reagan National Airport.

Image by Quintin Soloviev.

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An American Airlines jet had to abort its landing at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., early Tuesday morning to prevent a potential collision with another aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the flight was nearing its descent at approximately 8:20 AM EST when the pilot noticed another plane preparing to take off from the same runway. show more
December 12, 2024
William Upton
NatSec

Biden Quietly Grants Clemency for 2 Chinese Spies and a Pedophile.

President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of two convicted Chinese spies and a pedophile just before the Thanksgiving holiday in November. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), clemency was granted to Yanjun Xu, who was sentenced in 2022 to 240 months in prison for espionage on behalf of China; Ji Chaoqun, who was sentenced in 2023 to 96 months in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and acting as an unregistered foreign agent; and Shanlin Jin, sentenced to 97 months in 2022 for possession of child pornography.

The warrants of clemency for the three individuals do not provide any detail as to why their sentences were commuted and subsequently released from prison. However, the Biden White House has stated that the men were part of a prisoner exchange with the People’s Republic of China. As a condition of their clemency, all three must leave the U.S.

TWO SPIES AND A PEDO.

In 2022, Yanjun Xu, a Chinese government intelligence officer, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being extradited to the U.S. As deputy division director at the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS), Xu attempted to illegally obtain U.S. aviation industry trade secrets by using aliases and front companies to lure industry experts to China under the pretense they’d be speaking at a university. After the targets arrived in China, Xu and other MSS operatives would break into their hotel rooms and hack their electronic devices.

Meanwhile, Ji Chaoqun was sentenced to eight years for acting as an unregistered foreign agent for the People’s Republic of China. Ji assisted Xu’s espionage operation and attempted to recruit other Chinese nationals in the American aviation industry to spy for China.

The final clemency recipient, Shanlin Jin, is unconnected to the espionage plot. Arrested on possession of child pornography, Jin’s inclusion in the exchange appears to be because of his family’s influence in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

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President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of two convicted Chinese spies and a pedophile just before the Thanksgiving holiday in November. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), clemency was granted to Yanjun Xu, who was sentenced in 2022 to 240 months in prison for espionage on behalf of China; Ji Chaoqun, who was sentenced in 2023 to 96 months in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and acting as an unregistered foreign agent; and Shanlin Jin, sentenced to 97 months in 2022 for possession of child pornography. show more
November 4, 2024
Culture
Economy
News

Boeing Abandons DEI Policies Amid Ongoing Safety Concerns.

Aerospace giant Boeing has decided to disband its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) department, according to a report by anti-DEI activist Christopher Rufo. Rufo announced the development last Thursday on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that internal pressures might have influenced the new CEO’s decision to shut down the department. Rufo had previously criticized Boeing’s DEI strategy, arguing that it was diminishing competence within the company.

Bloomberg News confirmed the restructuring, noting that staff from the DEI office will merge with another human resources team focusing on talent and employee experience. Sara Liang Bowen, the Boeing vice president responsible for the former DEI department, left the company in conjunction with departmental changes.

Boeing has seen a slew of scandals in recent years relating to the safety of their aircraft. The Boeing 737 Max has seen several crashes, including two that occurred within months of each other in Indonesia and Ethiopia, killing a total of 346 people.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)  identified a serious fault in 292 Boeing 777 aircraft earlier this year, noting that the faults could lead the planes’s engines to explode in mid-air flight.

Sam Salehpour, a Boeing engineer, warned the United States Senate in April that it was only a matter of time before a major aviation disaster occurred as aircraft were not being constructed to proper requirements.

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Aerospace giant Boeing has decided to disband its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) department, according to a report by anti-DEI activist Christopher Rufo. Rufo announced the development last Thursday on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that internal pressures might have influenced the new CEO’s decision to shut down the department. Rufo had previously criticized Boeing's DEI strategy, arguing that it was diminishing competence within the company. show more
August 28, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Election 2024
News

Top Biden-Harris ‘Green Czar’ Owns an Oil Well.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Whitaker, leading the Biden-Harris government’s climate agenda for American aviation, owns an oil well in Wyoming. Leased to Hilcorp Energy, the largest private oil company in the U.S., the well is valued at up to $100,000, with the net-zero technocrat receives annual royalties of up to $5,000 from Hilcorp.

Whitaker’s fossil fuel income raises questions about the sincerity of the Biden-Harris climate agenda. The White House has been pushing for a transition to green energy since Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took office, with Whitaker and the FAA being given a significant role. In February, Whitaker announced regulations aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, including so-called sustainable aviation fuels.

Whitaker’s financial ties to the oil industry cast doubt on how much the Biden-Harris government really cares about reducing fossil fuel use.

“This is exactly the kind of thing that gets everyday people furious because the people who are constantly turning the ratchet up to make their gas more expensive, their car more expensive, their airline ticket to see family more expensive, to limit what they can buy at the grocery store because it doesn’t align with certain green targets—are globe-hopping in private jets, owning oil wells, and living life with abandon,” commented O.H. Skinner, executive director of the Alliance for Consumers.

Harris infamously vowed to ban fracking on “day one” of a Harris administration during her 2019-20 run at the presidency, but she now claims she will not do so—as the policy would destroy jobs in the key swing state of Pennsylvania, and drive up energy costs even further.

Image by Jan Zakelj.

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Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Whitaker, leading the Biden-Harris government's climate agenda for American aviation, owns an oil well in Wyoming. Leased to Hilcorp Energy, the largest private oil company in the U.S., the well is valued at up to $100,000, with the net-zero technocrat receives annual royalties of up to $5,000 from Hilcorp. show more
June 24, 2024
News

U.S. Prosecutors Push for Criminal Charges Against Boeing.

U.S. prosecutors have urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to file criminal charges against Boeing, citing breaches of a settlement agreement related to two deadly crashes of 737 Max aircraft that killed 346 people. This follows accusations that Boeing violated a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) established after the crashes in October 2018 with Lion Air and March 2019 with Ethiopian Airlines.

Ed Pierson, Executive Director of the Foundation for Aviation Safety and a former Boeing senior manager, emphasized the gravity of this decision, pointing to ongoing issues with Boeing’s 737 Max and 787 models, blaming management practices for these persistent problems.

In January, an incident involving a dislodged door panel from a new 737 Max operated by Alaska Airlines further heightened safety concerns. Whistleblowers have reported production flaws in the 737 Max, 787 Dreamliner, and 777 models to the Senate, which is conducting an investigation into Boeing’s manufacturing processes.

One of the whistleblowers, John Barnett, apparently died by suicide after coming forward, despite previously telling friends, “if anything happens to me, it’s not suicide.”

Relatives of crash victims are demanding a $25 billion fine against Boeing and criminal prosecution, following a 2021 $2.5 billion settlement agreement. This settlement includes provisions for dropping criminal charges after three years if Boeing adheres to specific requirements. However, the DOJ contends that Boeing has failed to implement adequate compliance and ethics programs.

Boeing’s outgoing CEO, Dave Calhoun, faced intense scrutiny from U.S. senators last week. Despite Calhoun’s assurances that the company had learned from past mistakes and that whistleblower procedures were effective, lawmakers accused him of fostering a culture of retaliation. Calhoun will step down at the end of 2024 after nearly five years in the role but will remain on Boeing’s board.

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U.S. prosecutors have urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to file criminal charges against Boeing, citing breaches of a settlement agreement related to two deadly crashes of 737 Max aircraft that killed 346 people. This follows accusations that Boeing violated a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) established after the crashes in October 2018 with Lion Air and March 2019 with Ethiopian Airlines. show more
June 21, 2024
News

Here’s What the Boeing CEO Has to Say About His Safety Record.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun faced scrutiny from lawmakers on Capitol Hill for the first time earlier this week, addressing numerous safety concerns and management issues under his leadership. While many observers believed Calhoun would take responsibility for the company’s numerous alleged safety lapses, the Boeing CEO instead struck a defiant tone, claiming he is proud of the company’s safety record.

During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Calhoun expressed regret for Boeing’s errors that led to fatal airline crashes and acknowledged the company’s need to restore public trust. However, he consistently avoided taking direct personal responsibility. Calhoun also defended Boeing’s safety culture, expressing pride in the company’s actions in response to the safety lapses.

HAWLEY VERSUS CALHOUN.

When questioned by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) about receiving a lucrative raise despite Boeing’s poor financial performance and calls for his resignation, Calhoun maintained his commitment to seeing his term through. The Boeing CEO secured a 45 percent raise for himself contrasted with a 1 percent increase for machinists over eight years. Calhoun’s salary is north of $20 million annually, and he will receive a $45 million severance package when he retires later this year.

This response and his repeated inability to provide clear answers about company policies and safety accountability drew criticism from lawmakers. Hawley specifically accused him of deflecting blame onto employees rather than management.

LACK OF COMPETITION & SAFETY.

Regulatory attention heightened sharply following an incident on January 5, when a Boeing jet’s door plug detached shortly after takeoff. The aviation industry’s limited competition—often described as a duopoly between Boeing and Airbus—means airlines have minimal flexibility to switch manufacturers without substantial costs and retraining. Consequently, customer dissatisfaction has little impact on Boeing’s market position. Public outcry also appears to have minimal effect on the company’s operations.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reviewing Boeing’s submitted plans to address its safety issues, and the Justice Department (DOJ) has initiated a criminal investigation into the January incident.

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Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun faced scrutiny from lawmakers on Capitol Hill for the first time earlier this week, addressing numerous safety concerns and management issues under his leadership. While many observers believed Calhoun would take responsibility for the company's numerous alleged safety lapses, the Boeing CEO instead struck a defiant tone, claiming he is proud of the company's safety record. show more
May 23, 2024
Jack Montgomery
News

Hundreds of Boeings Have Explosive Jet Engine Fault.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has identified a fault in 292 U.S.-registered Boeing 777 aircraft, chiefly operated by United and American Airlines, that could cause their jet engines to discharge electrostatic energy into their fuel tanks and blow them up mid-air.

The FAA proposed an ‘Airworthiness Directive’ in March, “prompted by a determination that the nitrogen enriched air distribution system (NEADS) cover plate assembly attached to a certain vent stringer in the center wing tank [of certain Boeing 777 aircraft] was installed without a designed electrical bond.”

The air regulator explains that the “accumulation of electrostatic charge in the cover plate assembly and the float valve assembly” as a result of the fault “could lead to electrostatic discharge to the surrounding structure.”

“This condition, if not addressed, could result in an ignition source inside the fuel tank and subsequent fire or explosion,” the FAA warns.

Boeing and parts supplier Spirit AeroSystems have been plagued by scandals in recent months. Multiple aircraft have lost doors mid-air, dropped tires, and hurt passengers after violent movements caused by “technical events.”

An FAA audit failed Boeing and Spirit on dozens of product audits as these issues were becoming widely reported, with whistleblowers stepping forward alleging they were raising serious safety concerns internally and being ignored.

Two of these whistleblowers have died suddenly, including one, John Barnett, deemed to have fatally shot himself after telling friends, “If anything happens to me, it’s not suicide.”

Boeing insiders allege standards are falling as a result of “politicized” Human Resources (HR) directives pushing “anti-excellence” Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies.

However, the FAA has also been pressuring the aviation industry to push DEI policies, not only for women and ethnic minorities but for people with “psychiatric disability” and even “severe intellectual disability.”

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has identified a fault in 292 U.S.-registered Boeing 777 aircraft, chiefly operated by United and American Airlines, that could cause their jet engines to discharge electrostatic energy into their fuel tanks and blow them up mid-air. show more