Boeing Crashes, Incidents & Failures: 2019-2025 Timeline
The aviation industry has always been one of the most scrutinized and regulated sectors, with safety being the top priority. However, between 2019 and 2025, Boeing aircrafts were involved in multiple crashes, technical failures, emergency landings, and structural issues. This timeline highlights the major incidents that shook the industry and raised concerns over Boeing’s safety, quality control, and reliability.
2019: Lion Air Crash in Indonesia
On October 29, 2018, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft operated by Lion Air crashed into the Java Sea, killing 189 people. The crash was attributed to a faulty angle of attack (AOA) sensor, which caused the plane’s MCAS system to malfunction. The incident led to the grounding of all Boeing 737 MAX aircraft worldwide.
2020: Ethiopian Airlines Crash
Just five months after the Lion Air crash, on March 10, 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed, killing all 157 people on board. The incident was also linked to the faulty AOA sensor and MCAS system. Boeing’s 737 MAX fleet was again grounded worldwide.
2020: South Korean Airlines Engine Failure
On June 21, 2020, a Boeing 777-200ER operated by Korean Air suffered an engine failure during takeoff from Incheon International Airport. The incident highlighted concerns over the reliability of Boeing’s engines.
2021: 737 Engine Failure in China
On March 21, 2021, a Boeing 737-800 operated by China Eastern Airlines suffered an engine failure during takeoff from Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The incident led to a brief grounding of the aircraft.
2022: 737 Technical Issue in South Korea
On February 24, 2022, a Boeing 737-800 operated by Korean Air was forced to make an emergency landing due to a technical issue. The incident raised concerns over the reliability of Boeing’s 737 aircraft.
2023: 787 Structural Issue
On January 18, 2023, a Boeing 787-9 operated by Japan Airlines reported a structural issue with its fuselage. The incident led to a brief grounding of the aircraft and raised concerns over the quality control of Boeing’s 787 jets.
2025: Air India Dreamliner Crash in Ahmedabad
On March 25, 2025, a Boeing 787-8 operated by Air India crashed while taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The incident killed 26 people and injured several others. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but it has raised concerns over the safety and reliability of Boeing’s 787 aircraft.
Reforms and Ongoing Concerns
Despite Boeing’s efforts to reform and improve its safety and quality control processes, recurring problems with its 737 and 787 jets continue to raise concerns over the company’s reliability. In recent news, Boeing has laid off 180 engineers in Bengaluru, India, as part of its restructuring efforts (https://ascendants.in/business-stories/boeing-lays-off-180-engineers-bengaluru/).
The aviation industry is heavily regulated, and any incidents or failures can have far-reaching consequences. Boeing’s ongoing struggles to address safety and quality control issues have led to a loss of public trust and increased scrutiny from regulators and customers. As the industry continues to evolve, Boeing must prioritize safety, quality control, and reliability to regain the trust of its customers and the public.
Source:
https://ascendants.in/business-stories/boeing-lays-off-180-engineers-bengaluru/
