Details on Boeing Planes crashed till 2025
Boeing Company, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington, is one of the world’s largest aerospace manufacturers. Initially focused on seaplanes, Boeing expanded into commercial and military aviation, becoming a cornerstone of the global aerospace industry. Key milestones include:
| 1916–1930s | Boeing began with small seaplanes like the B&W and later developed iconic aircraft like the B-17 Flying Fortress, establishing its reputation in military aviation. |
| 1940–1950s: | Post-World War II, Boeing entered the commercial jet era with the 707, revolutionizing air travel with its speed and range. |
| 1960–1980s: | The 737, 747, and 767 models solidified Boeing’s dominance in commercial aviation. The 737, introduced in 1968, became the best-selling commercial jetliner. |
| 1990s–2000s: | Mergers with McDonnell Douglas (1997) and the launch of the 787 Dreamliner (2011) marked Boeing’s push into advanced technology and fuel efficiency. |
| 2010s–2020s: | Boeing faced significant challenges with the 737 MAX crashes (2018, 2019) and production issues, impacting its reputation. Under new leadership, like CEO Kelly Ortberg (2024), Boeing has focused on restoring safety and trust. |
Boeing’s history reflects innovation marred by recent safety and quality control controversies, particularly with the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner.
Boeing Plane Crashes (Up to June 2025):-Below is a summary of notable accidents involving Boeing aircraft, focusing on commercial jets, based on available data up to June 2025. This list is not exhaustive but highlights significant incidents, particularly those referenced in recent sources:
Pre-2018 Notable Crashes:-
| December 8, 1972: | United Airlines Flight 553 (Boeing 737-200) crashed near Chicago Midway Airport due to pilot error, killing 43 of 61 on board and 2 on the ground. This was the first fatal 737 crash. |
| April 29, 1952: | Pan Am Flight 202 (Boeing 377 Stratocruiser) broke up mid-air in Brazil due to possible engine separation, killing all 50 on board. |
| April 2, 1956: | Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2 (Boeing 377 Stratocruiser) ditched into Puget Sound after improper cowl flap settings, killing 4 passengers and 1 crew member. |
| April 8, 1968: | BOAC Flight 712 (Boeing 707) suffered an engine failure and fire after takeoff from London Heathrow, killing 5 of 127 on board. |
| April 20, 1968: | South African Airways Flight 228 (Boeing 707) crashed after takeoff in Namibia due to pilot error, killing 123 of 128 on board. |
| January 28, 1961: | American Airlines Flight 1502 (Boeing 707) crashed into the sea off New York during a training flight, killing 6. |
| December 21, 1994: | Air Algerie Flight 702P (Boeing 737-200C) crashed in Coventry, UK, killing all 5 crew members. |
| August 9, 1995: | Aviateca Flight 901 (Boeing 737-200) crashed in El Salvador, killing all 65 on board. |
| November 13, 1995: | Nigeria Airways Flight 357 (Boeing 737-200) overran the runway in Nigeria, killing 11 of 138 passengers. |
2018–2025 Notable Crashes:-
| October 29, 2018: | Lion Air Flight 610 (Boeing 737 MAX 8) crashed into the Java Sea 13 minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, Indonesia, due to a malfunction in the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). All 189 on board died. This was the first fatal 737 MAX crash. |
| March 10, 2019: | Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 (Boeing 737 MAX 8) crashed 6 minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, also due to MCAS issues, killing all 157 on board. These crashes led to a global grounding of the 737 MAX for nearly two years. |
| January 8, 2020: | Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 (Boeing 737-800) was shot down near Tehran, Iran, by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, killing all 176 on board. |
| August 7, 2020: | Air India Express Flight 1344 (Boeing 737-800) overshot the runway in heavy rain at Calicut International Airport, India, killing 21 of 190 on board. |
| February 6, 2023: | A Coulson Aviation Boeing 737-300 crashed while fighting a fire in Western Australia, with both crew members surviving. |
| May 9, 2024: | A Transair Boeing 737-300 overran the runway during a rejected takeoff in Senegal, with no fatalities but 10 injuries among 85 on board. |
| November 9, 2024: | Total Linhas Aereas Flight 5682 (Boeing 737-400 cargo) made an emergency landing in São Paulo, Brazil, after an in-flight fire, with both crew members surviving |
| December 29, 2024: | Jeju Air Flight 2216 (Boeing 737-800) overran the runway during a belly landing in Muan, South Korea, after a bird strike, killing 179 of 181 on board. This was the deadliest 737 Next Generation crash. |
| May 3, 2025: | A Boeing 737-290C operated by IBM Airlines was destroyed on the ground at Nyala Airport, Sudan, killing all 20 on board. |
| June 12, 2025: | Air India Flight 171 (Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner) crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, into a medical college hostel, killing 241 of 242 on board and at least 38 on the ground. This was the first fatal 787 Dreamliner crash and the deadliest aviation accident of 2025 |
Notes on Crashes-
01- The 737 MAX crashes (2018, 2019) were pivotal, exposing flaws in the MCAS and Boeing’s transparency with regulators, leading to a $2.5 billion settlement in 2021 and ongoing legal scrutiny.
02- The 787 Dreamliner had an exemplary safety record until the 2025 Air India crash, with prior groundings due to lithium battery concerns (2013) and manufacturing flaws (2021–2022).
03- The 2025 Air India crash investigation is ongoing, with no confirmed cause yet. Potential factors include engine failure, pilot error, or maintenance issues, but experts suggest it’s unlikely to be a manufacturing defect given the plane’s 11-year service history.
CEO Statements in U.S. Court for Plane Crashes-
Boeing has faced significant legal action in U.S. courts, particularly following the 737 MAX crashes (2018, 2019) and the Alaska Airlines door plug incident (January 2024). The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) accused Boeing of defrauding regulators by concealing MCAS issues, leading to a 2021 Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) that included a $2.5 billion settlement ($243.6 million fine, $500 million for victims’ families, $1.77 billion for airlines). In 2024, the DOJ found Boeing breached the DPA, leading to further negotiations. A plea deal for a guilty plea to fraud was rejected by a federal judge in December 2024 due to concerns over the independent monitor selection process. In May 2025, the DOJ proposed a non-prosecution agreement, allowing Boeing to avoid a felony conviction by paying $1.1 billion, including $444.5 million for victims’ families, which was criticized by victims’ families as insufficient.
CEO Statements in Court:
David Calhoun (CEO, 2020–2024)- Calhoun, who succeeded Dennis Muilenburg in January 2020, testified before Congress in October 2019 (as a board member) and faced scrutiny over Boeing’s handling of the 737 MAX crashes. He acknowledged responsibility for the Alaska Airlines door plug incident (January 5, 2024), stating in a March 2024 NTSB report response: “Whatever final conclusions are reached, Boeing is accountable for what happened. An event like this must not happen on an airplane that leaves our factory. We simply must do better for our customers and their passengers.”
Calhoun’s statements in court documents emphasized Boeing’s commitment to safety improvements and compliance with the 2021 DPA, though he faced criticism for downplaying earlier safety concerns.
Kelly Ortberg (CEO, August 2024–present)- No direct court statements from Ortberg are documented in the provided sources for U.S. court proceedings related to crashes. However, Ortberg issued a public statement regarding the Air India Flight 171 crash (June 12, 2025): “Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected in Ahmedabad. I have spoken with Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran to offer our full support, and a Boeing team stands ready to support the investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.”Ortberg’s focus has been on supporting the investigation rather than court-specific statements, as the Air India crash probe is led by India’s AAIB with U.S. NTSB involvement.
On CEO Statements- Calhoun’s court-related statements centered on the 737 MAX crashes and the Alaska Airlines incident, reflecting Boeing’s acceptance of responsibility and commitment to safety reforms.
Ortberg’s statements are primarily public and related to the 2025 Air India crash, not U.S. court proceedings, as the investigation is ongoing and led by Indian authorities.
The DOJ’s non-prosecution agreement (May 2025) remains under review, with no trial scheduled as of June 2, 2025, pending court approval. Victims’ families have expressed outrage, arguing the deal lacks accountability.
Sources:
The CPA Journal, June 3, 2025
Wikipedia, List of Boeing 737 accidents, June 15, 2025
BBC, May 16, 2025
U.S. Department of Justice, May 23, 2025
BBC, June 5, 2025
PBS, March 13, 2024
Al Jazeera, June 13, 2025
Wikipedia, 2025 in aviation, June 13, 2025
The New York Times, June 12, 2025
Wikipedia, List of commercial aircraft accidents, June 15, 2025
ABC News, June 13, 2025
CNBC, May 24, 2025
NPR, May 17, 2025
Reuters, May 24, 2025
BBC, June 13, 2025
CNBC, June 13, 2025
The Guardian, June 14, 2025
Note: The Air India crash cause is still under investigation, and final reports may take 12–24 months. Always verify crash causes with official NTSB or equivalent reports, as initial hypotheses (e.g., engine failure, pilot error) may be ruled out.
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