What's happening with Boeing would be more of a story if we didn't have two senile liver spots running for the US presidency. Nothing makes sense.

Here's a quick and dirty list of what I could find for 2024 Boeing mishaps, not including the most recent wheel falling off. I'm sure there are many more that I missed. I wasn't aware that a second whistleblower had died in unusual circumstances.

EDIT: Message is too long. I'll see if I can increase max message length tomorrow. Not up to it at the moment. I'll split this list into two responses. THAT'S how much as been happening.

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January 13

A Boeing 737-800 operated by Japan's All Nippon Airways was forced to cancel its takeoff on January 13 after a window in the cockpit cracked.

According to Reuters, a spokesperson for the airline said that the crack was on an outer layer of the window and noted that it "was not something that affected the flight's control or pressurisation."

January 17

Secretary of State Antony Blinken was scheduled to travel on a Boeing 737 from Switzerland on January 17 but was forced to board a different plane after an issue relating to a possible oxygen leak.

Matt Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department said that the Boeing 737 experience a mechanical issue, and a second Boeing airplane was sent to take Blinken back to the U.S.

January 19

Videos posted on social media on January 19 captured flames coming out of a Boeing 747-8 in Miami, Florida.

"Atlas Air Flight 95 returned safely to Miami International Airport around 10:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, Jan. 18, after the crew reported an engine failure," a spokesperson for the FAA told Newsweek last week. "The Boeing 747 was headed to Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico. The FAA will investigate."

January 20

A Boeing 757 operated by Delta Airlines lost a wheel during an attempted takeoff. A spokesperson for Delta confirmed the incident to Newsweek and said: "Delta Flight 982 ATL/BOG was taxiing for departure when a nose wheel tire came loose from the gear....All customers and their bags were removed from the aircraft, transferred to the gate, and onto a replacement aircraft. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience."

January 23

In a statement provided to Newsweek, Boeing announced that it was planning to hold a "Quality Stand Down" on January 25 in Renton, Washington.

"During the session, production, delivery and support teams will pause for a day so employees can take part in working sessions focused on quality," the announcement said.

The statement also included portions of an internal message sent to employees that said: "The first of the stand downs will be held Thursday for the 737 program. Production, delivery and support efforts will pause for a day so teammates can take part in working sessions focused on quality."

In a statement on January 6, Boeing said it would support the FAA's decision to inspect their 737 aircraft.

"Safety is our top priority and we deeply regret the impact this event has had on our customers and their passengers," the statement said. "In addition, a Boeing technical team is supporting the NTSB's investigation into the Jan. 5 accident. We will remain in close contact with our regulator and customers."

February 6: A United 737 Max 8 experienced ‘stuck’ rudder pedals

United flight 1536 from the Bahamas to New Jersey reported stuck rudder pedals during the landing procedure. No one was injured, but the National Transportation Safety Board launched a probe into the incident.
March 7: Tire falls of a United Airlines flight shortly after takeoff from San Francisco

A Boeing 777-200 en route from San Francisco to Japan was rerouted to Los Angeles after a tire from the plane’s landing gear struts fell off immediately after takeoff. The plane landed safely in LA and again, no one was injured – but the incident only increased public paranoia. The car of one unlucky driver was significantly damaged when the tire crashed upon it, severely denting the left side of the vehicle. Fortunately, no one was in the car at the time.

March 9: A Boeing whistleblower is found dead - https://www.knpr.org/npr/2024-03-20/how-bad-is-boeings-2024-so-far-heres-a-timeline

John Barnett, a former Boeing quality control manager who became a whistleblower, is found dead in Charleston, S.C., where he once worked at Boeing's large 787 plant.

Police are investigating after finding Barnett dead in a vehicle. The coroner's office says he died "from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound."

Barnett was locked in a yearslong legal battle with Boeing. In a whistleblower complaint filed in early 2017, he accused his former employer of retaliating against him for raising safety concerns in the company's commercial airplanes.

"He was looking forward to having his day in court and hoped that it would force Boeing to change its culture," his family says in a statement.

March 11: 50 passengers injured after Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner dropped suddenly in mid-air

A LATAM Airlines flight from Sydney to Auckland, New Zealand, experienced a technical error that caused the plane to experience “strong movement” while en route to Auckland. 50 passengers were injured, though the flight landed safely in Auckland.

March 11: Boeing fails 33 of 89 audits during FAA inspection

The New York Times got ahold of a presentation that reveals dozens of issues throughout the manufacturing process, both at Boeing and at Spirit AeroSystems, a key supplier. The airline failed 33 of its 89 audits, with issues including inspectors finding Spirit staff using Dawn soap being as a lubricant on a door seal and a hotel room key card to check another door seal.

March 13: A United Airlines flight has a fuel leak en route from Sydney to San Francisco and is forced to turn back

A Boeing 777-300 operated by United Airlines was forced to return to Sydney on March 13 after reporting a fuel leak shortly after takeoff. The incident marked the fifth issue in a single week for United Airlines, but scrutiny quickly fell to Boeing as well, given its rough track record of late.

March 15: Boeing plane arrives in Oregon with missing external panel

A Boeing 737-800 en route from San Francisco to Medford, Oregon, arrived Friday without an external panel that had apparently been lost in flight. The debacle shut down Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport temprarily while staff searched for the panel, but it was not recovered onsite. United noted that the missing panel was on the underside of the plane where the wing meets the body.

March 25: Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun steps down

The malaise over the 737 Max — and a Q1 of 2024 rife with struggles — let Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun to announce on March 25 that he will step down as CEO by the end of the year. Also taking the exit door are Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal and Larry Kellner, the chairman of Boeing’s Board of Directors. COO Stephanie Pope will step into Deal’s position. A new CEO for the company at large has not yet been announced.

March 29

United Airlines flight 990 - a Boeing 777-200 - from San Francisco to Paris had to touch down early in Denver after engine problems.