The years don’t change who you are. They just magnify your personality.

Many moons ago, when we were kids; when Ipads and Xboxes were still flights of the future, our favourite playground used to be the terrace. And our favourite pastime used to be watching airplanes. The moment anyone spotted that giant bird in the sky, all the little people of the house would immediately gather to witness that wondrous spectacle. So in Seattle when my son suggested we visit the Boeing Factory, where these metallic wonders were created, naturally the child in me was thrilled.

Sure, I have boarded a Boeing before, probably even without realizing it, but to actually see a Jumbo Jet being assembled? WOW! It was obvious these humongous machines had to be built somewhere, but to actually see that ‘building’ in progress? Yet another WOW! The tour guide gave us some more facts to ‘wow’ about:

-The Boeing Everett Plant was the world’s largest building in volume, so large that when the factory was first built, it generated its own weather and clouds actually began to form in the ceiling from the heat of the equipment and moisture around.

-The mural on the six factory doors is the largest digital graphics in the world.

-The six storey building could accommodate the whole of Disneyland and its 12 acres of parking, and still have room to spare.

-It could hold 17 Football stadiums.

We saw rows and rows of assembly lines of different models of planes in different stages of construction- the 747, 777 and of course, the new 787- The Dreamliner!!

After returning, every time we watched our ‘home’ video the WOW factor kept increasing. Then in 2022 on Netflix, we watched the chilling, riveting and utterly damning documentary of the Boeing debacle- ‘Downfall’. Yes, the ‘WOW’ dynamic was carried forward, but the wonder, admiration and respect was now replaced with shock, disgust and despair.

‘Downfall- The Case against Boeing’ was a documentary made after the crash of two 737 MAX Boeings that killed 346 people. No ‘spoiler alerts’ as the film is an indictment of the Boeing leadership that ALLOWED the 737 Max crashes to happen. The story is examined through the perspective of surviving family members, lawyers and whistleblowers. The investigators reveal how Boeing's alleged priority of profit over safety could have contributed to two catastrophic crashes within months of each other.

If you have not yet heard about the two crashes that took place even before the Air India debacle, hear it. If you did not already know that several hundred passengers and crew had already lost their lives before the recent catastrophe, know it. Be aware of how we are all being literally taken for a ride!

In May last year the U.S. Justice Department found that Boeing had indeed violated the agreement, citing a door panel blowout on a 737 MAX 9 in January 2024. In fact the Boeing CEO, while denying that the company pressures workers to speed up airplane production, did admit ‘serious missteps’ that hurt the safety of his planes. But instead of pursuing criminal charges against individuals, a settlement was negotiated. It required the company to pay a criminal penalty. That’s it.

When a Corporate is blinded with greed, we get to see the ugly side of capitalism. But for a business to compromise on safety, the main factor that initially won the trust of millions; to ignore the responsibility to both its customers and its employees; and for justice to not be served? Well, that takes some guts and makes you think about corporate culture, its nasty principles and some weird laws. However that shouldn’t stop us from asking a few ‘Why, When, What and How’ questions:

a) Why is the CEO not in jail? Why is he free to enjoy a massive pension?

b) When does a ‘worker’s’ or ‘passenger’s’ death become a murder?

c) How many Boeings are currently flying and how many will be flying in future?

d) How do we get to know if the aircrafts are being properly maintained?

And the most important question:

e) What is this new rotten culture of shaming those who try to do the right thing?

Initially, before boarding an aircraft for the first time, there was always a nagging fear that since God didn’t give us wings, perhaps we were never destined to fly like the birds. But with time the trust in trained pilots, the faith in advanced aircrafts, and most importantly the desire to be with loved ones, slowly started to offer reassurance. Until now! Despite delays and service issues, the companys reputation for quality and reliability always gave us flyers hope and confidence. But if a systemic problem keeps on happening again and again and again, how can one feel safe?

It’s just not me. What with rising anxiety and doubt for maintenance of aircraft, pilot fatigue and safety I bet all flyers are now struggling with such dreaded doubts. When something like this happens, it leaves an indelible hole in your heart; a deep rooted terror in your soul. Then you don’t wonder if it was a technical or human error. You only wonder about the consequences, because like you, your brain is also a mass of human nerves. And whenever it is challenged, it doesn’t process logic. It only processes fear, and grief.

So even if the data says otherwise, with this ‘psychological block’ there will be no taking off, no landings and no in-betweens. At least until things settle down. Meanwhile, in my future of flights, even if it ain’t Boeing, I ain’t going!

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