United Boeing 777 is forced to land after fuel leak during takeoff – the FIFTH safety incident in week that included suicide of whistleblower

Boeing, the struggling aviation giant, has been faced with another predicament as one of its planes was compelled to make an emergency landing due to fuel leakage from its landing gear. This is the latest in a series of five incidents involving Boeing within a week’s period. The investigation into the unexpected landing is in progress. The incident unfolded on a 777-300 that was scheduled for a flight from Sydney to San Francisco. A video captured fluid spilling from the plane’s undercarriage.

In a separate but alarming incident, an ex-Boeing employee, turned whistleblower, was found dead, seemingly by suicide. Prior to his death, he had proclaimed that he had seen sub-standard components used in the assembly of planes. In another incident, the company’s flagship 787-Dreamliner flight suffered an accident injuring 50 passengers, just a few hours before the Sydney bound 777-300 took off. Following this, the company’s share value dropped by 4 percent, causing Boeing to lose over $4 billion in a single night.

These repeated failures and fiascos have not gone unnoticed by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), which recently disclosed that Boeing failed 33 of the 89 audits conducted on its controversial 737 Max model. This revelation was followed by United Airlines asking for a pause in work on the unreleased 737 Max jets, indicating a possible decline in confidence from carriers.

Further issues arose when another 737 plane engine caught fire after take-off from Florida’s Fort Meyers and yet another 777-200 lost its wheel on take off in San Francisco. This string of complications led United Airlines to pause their pilot hiring due to the delay in receiving new Boeing planes. The prediction for 2024 capacity is also in doubt due to the uncertainty surrounding aircraft deliveries, following the increase in FAA and DOJ scrutiny on Boeing’s operations.

Adding to Boeing’s concerns was the death of John Barnett, a retired Boeing Quality Manager, who was found dead just weeks after issuing stern warnings about the company’s 787 Dreamliner and 737 Max models. The FAA largely validated Barnett’s assertions, following six-month audits which revealed numerous failings in compliance with manufacturing quality control requirements.

Apart from the FAA and DOJ’s intense scrutiny, Boeing also faces possible consequences from the ongoing, unresolved technical issues with its planes. Meanwhile, United Airlines and Southwest have had to cut flights and freeze hiring due to Boeing’s extended crises. Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan stated that Boeing needs to improve its operations and then focus on deliveries. He regarded the capacity forecasts for