Boeing 737 MAX: A Cost-Cutting Catastrophe
2025-05-13
The Boeing 737 MAX's disastrous saga stems from cost-cutting decisions that prioritized profits over safety. To save money, Boeing reused an old airframe and fitted larger engines, creating an imbalance. A flawed automated system designed to correct this imbalance led to two fatal crashes, grounding the entire fleet. Subsequent safety issues and legal battles, including massive fines and a guilty plea to criminal fraud, ensued. Even after recertification, new problems continue to emerge, benefiting rival Airbus whose A320 series is poised to surpass the 737 as the best-selling plane ever. The 737 MAX's struggles serve as a cautionary tale of corporate greed and negligence.