Aviation giant Boeing’s crash crisis

The skies had been, in aviation parlance, “severe clear” for Dennis Muilenburg since he took the helm at Boeing four years ago. With air traffic increasing 6% annually, orders were booming, and revenue in 2018 topped $100bn (€88bn) for the first time in the company’s 102-year history.

Competitor Airbus SE has been distracted with the humiliating commercial flop of its A380 flagship and a bribery scandal that’s led to a huge management turnover. With Boeing’s stock price tripling during his tenure, its market value soared above $200bn, making it the largest US industrial company. It’s used the newfound clout to pursue acquisitions and ambitious projects such as a flying car.