Boeing Plane Crash

The Boeing Company

The Boeing Company is an American aerospace company that designs, manufactures, and sells planes, rotorcraft, satellites, missiles, rockets, and telecommunications equipment. It is the largest exporter in the U.S. by dollar value and is the third-largest defense contractor in the world.

​In 2021, Boeing was listed as the fourth-largest defense contractor in the United States. Roughly 25% of the company’s 141,000 employees works in the commercial airplanes department, which is responsible for designing, assembling, marketing, and selling commercial jets to airlines around the world. The commercial airplane department also provides product maintenance and training to its customer base.

While airline accidents are rare, Boeing aircraft have been involved in many over the last few years. In 2018, there were 41 total commercial flight accidents, and of that total, 18 involved Boeing 737s, more than any other plane. That same year, several Boeing 737s ran off runways, landed short of runways, or had their tails strike the ground. Prior to the worldwide grounding of the MAX, the aircraft had a fatal accident rate of one in every 200,000 flights. According to investigative reporter Peter Robison, that fatal accident rate represented “a frequency not seen since the early days of the jet age.” Robison notes that a Boeing executive found that one in 25 MAX airplanes experienced some kind of safety issue in the months after delivery.

The crashes of ET302 and JT610, along with the investigations that followed, damaged Boeing’s reputation in the aviation community. The global ban on the 737 MAX aircraft, which lasted nearly two years, cost Boeing billions. In addition to the $2.5 billion settlement with the U.S. Justice Department, a federal grand jury indicted a top pilot formerly with the company for deceiving the FAA and “scheming to defraud” Boeing’s airline customers. In November, of 2021, the company also settled a lawsuit filed by shareholders alleging Boeing failed to properly oversee the company and allowed lapses that led to the 2018 and 2019 crashes.

Robison’s book, ‘Flying Blind’, notes that Boeing’s downfall can be traced to a shift from a company that decades ago invested in new aircraft and valued engineering pedigree to a company whose sole obsession was stock market investors. Per Robison, Boeing “executed what today might be called the standard corporate playbook: anti-union, regulation-light, outsourcing-heavy,” which essentially valued profit above all else, including human lives.

"Boeing is not the same as it was two years ago but they have more to work to do.” - FAA chief Steve Dickson (Nov. 2021)

Boeing Commercial Plane Models

Since the beginning of the commercial jet era, Boeing has manufactured and sold more than 20,000 planes. The company currently has thousands of pending orders for its 737 MAX aircraft and other models.

Boeing Planes in Production

Boeing Planes in Service (No Longer in Production)

• 717-200
• 727
• 757

Boeing Accident Statistics

The following data from AirSafe represents fatal accidents involving Boeing aircraft. The criteria for a “fatal event” includes circumstances where at least one passenger on a Boeing air flight died from causes directly related to the operation of that aircraft. This includes deliberate acts by another passenger, crew member, or someone not on the aircraft (i.e. sabotage, hijacking, or military action). Excluded in the data are circumstances in which the only deaths were hijackers, saboteurs, or stowaways.

Which Airlines Fly Boeing Planes?

As of 2021, there are 577 different airlines flying more than 9,600 Boeing planes throughout the world. The following U.S. airlines have purchased the most Boeing aircraft:

United Airlines

Current Fleet: 853 aircraft

Boeing Planes in Fleet:

• 737-800 – 141
• 737-900ER – 136
• 777 – 96
• 787 – 63
• 757 – 61
• 767 – 54
• 737-700 – 53
• 737 MAX 9 – 30
• 737 MAX 8 – 14

United Airlines has been Boeing’s best customer in the U.S. Since purchasing Boeing’s 707 in 1959, United Airlines has purchased over 1,850 Boeing aircraft. While the airline does own and operate roughly 210 Airbus planes, Boeing jets represent the overwhelming majority of aircraft in United’s fleet.

The airline utilizes several models, from the 767-300ER to the 737 MAX. United is currently waiting on pending orders from Boeing for:

• 737 MAX 8 – 40
• 737 MAX 9 – 49
• 737 MAX 10 – 92

Southwest Airlines

Current Fleet: 737

Boeing Planes in Fleet:

• 737-700 – 461
• 737-800 – 207

Southwest Airlines has purchased more than 1,200 Boeing planes in its history. Since it began flying commercial flights in 1971, the low-budget airline has flown all of the classic 737 models. According to Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly, the airline remains strongly committed to the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft despite the safety issues unearthed during the Lion Air and Ethiopian Air crashes.

According to Simple Flying, as of 2021, Southwest has nearly 350 MAXs on order (150 MAX 7s and 200 MAX 8s).

American Airlines

Current Fleet: 897

Boeing Planes in Fleet:

• 737-800 – 303
• 777 – 67
• 787 – 46
• 737 MAX 8 – 41

American Airlines is the world’s largest airline by fleet. Since 1958, American has purchased more than 1,088 Boeing planes. In 2011, the airline placed an order with Boeing for 200 737s. Half of that order changed to 737 MAX 8s in 2013.

According to Simply Flying, Boeing planes represent a little more than half of the jets in American’s fleet. American has pending orders for another 102 aircraft from Boeing. The airline also flies Airbus planes.

Which Airlines Fly Boeing MAX Planes?

In addition to United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and American Airlines, the following air carriers fly Boeing 737 MAX aircraft:

The worldwide grounding of the MAX model caused a 20% reduction in MAX production at Boeing. Nevertheless, it is estimated that Boeing will deliver roughly 40 aircraft per month to fulfill standing MAX orders.

Aviation Attorneys with Decades of Experience Litigating Against Boeing

Aviation attorneys from the national law firm of Wisner Baum have the experience and expertise necessary to prevail in cases against major aircraft manufacturers like Boeing. Since 1973, our firm has represented more than 790 commercial aircraft passengers and crew members. We are the first U.S. law firm to win a public apology from an airline following a plane crash. Across all areas of practice, the firm has won more than $4 billion in verdicts and settlements.

Any legal action against a major aviation company requires representation that is up to the task. As our track record demonstrates, we know what it takes to win big cases against big companies.

Call (855) 948-5098 or contact us today to speak with our legal team.