Joe Biden’s comments come as Boeing faces scrutiny over a series of accidents (File/AFP)
New York:
US President Joe Biden joked about avoiding the doors of his Air Force One, a Boeing aircraft, as the aviation giant deals with a series of in-flight mishaps, the New York Post reported.
“I don’t sit at the door,” the 81-year-old president quipped, before quickly denying, “I’m just joking. I shouldn’t be joking about this.” This statement was made during the event.
Biden was responding to a question from CBS’ “The Late Show” host Steven Colbert about whether Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tightened the bolts on the presidential plane before Biden left for New York City.
The New York Post reported that the remarks brought a lighthearted tone to the fundraiser and highlighted broader concerns about aviation safety and Boeing’s ongoing challenges.
Boeing is facing heightened scrutiny after a series of in-flight incidents. The problem began on January 5 when an in-flight door burst on a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft operated by Alaska Airlines, leading the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ground all 737 Max 9 aircraft. Missing bolts on the rear door of an Alaska Airlines plane heightened concerns about Boeing’s safety protocols, an investigation revealed.
Soon after, a Boeing plane had to make an emergency landing in Japan after a cockpit window cracked, further damaging the company’s reputation.
In a separate incident, a Boeing 757 operated by Delta Air Lines lost a front tire while flying from Atlanta International Airport to Bogota, Colombia, raising concerns about the reliability of the Boeing aircraft.
To add to the series of incidents, a British passenger noticed shards of tape on the exterior of a Boeing 787 on a flight to India, raising further concerns about maintenance standards. Earlier this month, a United Airlines Boeing 777-300 suffered a fuel leak in mid-air and was forced to make an emergency landing. Faced with the challenges, Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun announced his decision to step down at the end of the year, reflecting a turbulent period for the company.
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