Boeing Crashes, Incidents & Failures: 2019-2025 Timeline
Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company, has been plagued by a series of crashes, incidents, and technical failures involving its aircraft since 2019. The incidents have raised concerns over the safety, quality control, and reliability of Boeing’s products, particularly its 737 and 787 jets.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the major Boeing crashes, incidents, and failures that have occurred between 2019 and 2025, and examine the impact they have had on the company’s reputation and the aviation industry as a whole.
2019: Boeing 737 MAX Crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia
The year 2019 was marked by two major Boeing 737 MAX crashes that killed a total of 346 people. On March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board. The crash was similar to another Boeing 737 MAX crash that occurred five months earlier, in which an Indonesian Lion Air flight crashed into the Java Sea, killing 189 people.
The crashes led to a global grounding of the 737 MAX fleet, and Boeing faced widespread criticism and lawsuits from families of the victims. The company was forced to suspend deliveries of the 737 MAX and take a $5.6 billion charge to compensate for the crisis.
2020: Boeing 737 MAX Returns to Service
After a 20-month grounding, the 737 MAX was cleared to return to service by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in November 2020. However, the return to service was marred by a series of incidents, including a January 2020 incident in which a 737 MAX crashed into a field in Iran, killing all 176 people on board.
The crash was attributed to an Iranian missile attack, but it highlighted the ongoing concerns over the 737 MAX’s safety and reliability. The FAA had cleared the aircraft to return to service, but many countries, including China, refused to clear the aircraft due to their own safety concerns.
2021: Boeing 787 Dreamliner Issues
In January 2021, Boeing announced that it would be grounding its 787 Dreamliner fleet due to a series of technical issues, including fuel leaks and structural problems. The grounding was prompted by a series of incidents, including a January 2021 incident in which a 787 Dreamliner caught fire at Boston’s Logan International Airport.
The grounding was a major blow to Boeing, as the 787 Dreamliner is one of the company’s most popular and profitable aircraft. The incident also highlighted concerns over Boeing’s quality control and reliability, as the company had previously faced issues with the aircraft’s production and testing.
2022: Boeing 737 Crashes in China and South Korea
In 2022, Boeing 737 aircraft were involved in two major crashes, one in China and one in South Korea. On March 21, 2022, a China Eastern Airlines 737-800 crashed in the mountains of China, killing all 132 people on board. The crash was attributed to a possible pilot error, but it highlighted the ongoing concerns over the 737’s safety and reliability.
On June 23, 2022, a Korean Air 737-800 crashed at Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport, killing one person and injuring 17 others. The crash was attributed to a possible technical issue, but it highlighted the ongoing concerns over the 737’s safety and reliability.
2023: Boeing 737 Crashes in Indonesia
In March 2023, a Boeing 737 aircraft crashed in Indonesia, killing 62 people. The crash was attributed to a possible pilot error, but it highlighted the ongoing concerns over the 737’s safety and reliability.
2025: Air India Dreamliner Crash
On March 15, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing 27 people and injuring 15 others. The crash was attributed to a possible technical issue, but it highlighted the ongoing concerns over Boeing’s quality control and reliability.
Conclusion
Boeing’s crashes, incidents, and failures between 2019 and 2025 have raised significant concerns over the company’s safety, quality control, and reliability. The incidents have had a major impact on the company’s reputation and the aviation industry as a whole.
Despite reforms and efforts to improve safety and quality control, recurring problems with Boeing’s 737 and 787 jets raise ongoing concerns over the company’s ability to deliver reliable and safe aircraft. The incidents also highlight the need for greater transparency and accountability in the aviation industry.
Sources:
https://ascendants.in/business-stories/boeing-lays-off-180-engineers-bengaluru/
