Family members of the crash victims of the Boeing 737 MAX8 in Ethiopia, hold photographs during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Washington.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
The Senate hearing with Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun started with Senator Richard Blumenthal, the subcommittee chairman, recognizing family members of the two fatal crashes.
Those family members included families of four of the 346 who died in two crashes, one in October 2018 in Indonesia, and one in 2019, in Ethiopia. They all stood and held photos of their late family members.
In addition there were two family members of John Barnett, a Boeing whistleblower who died earlier this year from what police have ruled to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Blumenthal said Barnett’s death came “under the immense pressure the company put on him.”
“To all of you, thank you for having the strength and courage to be with us. We are deeply sorry for your losses,” said Blumenthal. He said it was important to start the hearing by recognizing those who had died.
“The issues before us today have real human consequences. Life and death results. Not just abstract numbers,” said Blumenthal. “This hearing is a moment of reckoning. It’s about a company, once an iconic company known for engineering excellence and product prowess, that somehow lost its way.”
Calhoun started his opening remarks with an apology to the family members of the people who died in the two 737 Max crashes, as well as the passengers and crew who were on the January 5 Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max flight that had a door plug blow out, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the plane.
“I apologize to the grief we have caused,” he said, as he turned around to face the family members who were present. “I want you to know we are totally committed to work focused on safety. … I’m sorry.”
