WASHINGTON
US senators on Tuesday attacked the CEO of Boeing for the planemaker’s tarnished safety record, overshadowing his apology to families who lost loved ones in two 737 MAX crashes and acceptance of responsibility after a January mid-air emergency.
Chief Executive Dave Calhoun faced repeated questions about how much he is paid, Boeing’s safety culture, and why he is not immediately resigning instead of retiring by year’s end, at a hearing before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. “I am proud of every action we have taken,” Calhoun said in response to harsh questioning from Republican Senator Josh Hawley who asked, “Why haven’t you resigned?” and accused Calhoun of “strip-mining” Boeing while earning a multimillion-dollar pay package. Calhoun’s total compensation in 2023 rose to $32.8 million, a 45% increase from the $22.6 million he received the previous year.
