Boeing's departing chief executive on Tuesday apologised to relatives of victims who died in two crashes on 737 Max jets.
Dave Calhoun appeared before a US Senate hearing where he was grilled on the company's safety practices and retaliation against whistleblowers.
Mr Calhoun stood at the witness table during his prepared remarks before the Senate permanent investigations committee to face the victims' relatives who attended the hearing, titled “Boeing's broken safety culture”.
“I apologise for the grief that we have caused,” he told the relatives.
Tuesday's hearing marked his first remarks before Congress since a door plug blew out of a 737 Max 9 aircraft during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.
No one was injured in the incident, but it raised new concerns about the company's safety practices.
“This hearing is a moment of reckoning. It is about a company … that somehow lost its way,” committee chairman Richard Blumenthal said.
Mr Calhoun's 2020 appointment was meant to demonstrate Boeing's commitment to safety after the 2018 and 2019 crashes.
“But then this past January, the facade faded, literally blew off the hollow shell that had been Boeing's promises to the world,” Mr Blumenthal said.
When asked by Mr Blumenthal if Boeing has done enough to address safety concerns, Mr Calhoun responded: “I asked that question every day, have we done enough?”
Mr Blumenthal recommended Boeing be prosecuted, citing “mounting evidence” that the company breached a 2021 agreement with the Justice Department to address safety.
“Let's put it very bluntly – 346 people died because of a faulty control system … that Boeing knew was going to cause a crash at some point,” Mr Blumenthal said.
Boeing CEO pressed on whistleblower retaliation
Whistleblowers have come forward since the Alaska Airlines incident, describing Boeing's culture as one that has failed to address safety concerns and clamps down on employees who speak out against it.
Ahead of the hearing, the committee released a new report in which a quality assurance investigator at Boeing's plant in Washington alleged the company lost hundreds of faulty parts.
Politicians recalled reports in which whistleblowers were harassed by their employers after coming forward.
Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour, who appeared before a Senate panel in April, said he was threatened with physical violence.
After his testimony, the US Federal Aviation Administration launched an investigation into Boeing's 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which are used for international flights.
Another whistleblower, John Barnett, who worked on 787 jets in South Carolina, reported his supervisor called him 19 times on one day and 21 times on another day after raising concerns about missing parts.
“And when Barnett asked his supervisor about those calls, he was told … 'I'm going to push you until you break'. He broke,” Mr Blumenthal said, referring to Barnett's death.
Mr Calhoun was unable to say how many of Boeing's employees were fired for retaliating against whistleblowers.
Boeing under public and private pressure
Mr Calhoun's testimony comes as Washington continues to increase its investigations into Boeing after the Alaska Air incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration recently announced two more investigations into Boeing over titanium on some of its jets, as well as a “Dutch Roll” that occurred during one flight at the weekend.
In March, the FAA said an audit of Boeing and its supplier Spirit Aerosystems showed the companies allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements.
Frustration over Boeing's safety concerns have also spilt into the private sector.
Executives at American Airlines, Alaska Air Group and United Airlines all criticised Boeing over its safety practices, as has the chair of Emirates Airline.
Boeing's quarterly deliveries also dipped in the first quarter this year, and airlines are expecting delays in receiving Boeing jets.
Mr Calhoun is expected to step down as Boeing chief executive this year.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
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Air Force Intelligence Agency
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Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
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Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm
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Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
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Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR
US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.
KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
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On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
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Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
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- On sale: 2026
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
