For way too long, the aviation industry has conveniently developed a false narrative about the cause of plane crashes. In fact, 70 percent of all aircraft accidents have been determined to be pilot error. This statistic is mind boggling.
Recent events in the news, however, have exposed this narrative at the heart of a culture designed to distract from systemic safety weaknesses in other spokes of the system. A complex system that includes manufacturers, airline operators, maintenance services, airport and technological infrastructure, regulators, and consumers. Perhaps the most obvious protagonist that benefits from this narrative is Boeing. Once a highly respected behemoth, we have discovered that Boeing traded safety for profits risking thousands of lives of unknowing passengers.
Despite the tarnish on its once immaculate reputation, the erosion of consumer trust, the billions of dollars in financial losses, countless federal investigations, and demoralized workforce, Boeing has still not done enough to turn things around. It will take years for Boeing to rise from the ashes and regain our trust. The FAA must continue to press for accountability for the sake of you and me.