♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> John: WELCOME, WELCOME,
WELCOME TO "LAST WEEK TONIGHT!"
I'M JOHN OLIVER, THANKS FOR
JOINING US.
IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK, MITCH
MCCONNELL ANNOUNCED HE'D BE
STEPPING DOWN AS REPUBLICAN
SENATE LEADER, THERE WAS A WILLY
WONKA FIASCO IN SCOTLAND THAT
ANSWERED THE QUESTION "WHAT IF
YOU ASKED CHAT GPT TO PLAN A
POP-UP EVENT FOR KIDS, THEN SHUT
YOUR LAPTOP AND WALKED INTO THE
OCEAN?"
AND JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCED HOPES
FOR AN IMMINENT CEASEFIRE IN
GAZA, WHILE HOUSING AN ICE
CREAM, NEXT TO SETH MEYERS.
AND I HOPE THERE'S A CEASEFIRE,
BUT THE LACK OF URGENCY FROM THE
US REGARDING ONE HAS BEEN
SHAMEFUL -- ESPECIALLY AS JUST
THIS WEEK, MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE
WERE KILLED AFTER ISRAELI FORCES
OPENED FIRE ON A CROWD WAITING
TO GET AID FROM A CONVOY.
AND A STATE DEPARTMENT
SPOKESPERSON TRIED TO JUSTIFY
AMERICA'S RELUCTANCE TO STAND UP
TO ISRAEL, BEFORE BEING
SPECTACULARLY CORRECTED BY AN AP
REPORTER.
>> UNITED STATES DOES NOT
DICTATE TO ISRAEL WHAT IT MUST
DO JUST AS WE DON'T DICTATE TO
ANY COUNTRY WHAT IT MUST DO.
WE PRESENT WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE
THE --
>> UNLESS YOU INVADE THEM.
>> WE PRESENT WHAT WE BELIEVE
ARE THE -- GOOD ONE, MATT.
NO, I MEAN -- BUT COME ON.
>> John: WOW, THAT'S BRUTAL.
AND I SO BADLY WANT THAT
REPORTER FACT-CHECKING EVERY
PRESS BRIEFING FROM NOW ON.
"LISTEN, WE'D NEVER SUPPORT
SETTLING IN SOMEONE ELSE'S
HOMELAND --"
"UNLESS THEY'RE NATIVE
AMERICAN!"
"YES, RIGHT, RIGHT.
AND WE'D NEVER BOMB INNOCENT
CIVILIANS --"
"UNLESS IT'S BY DRONE!"
"FAIR POINT.
BUT WE'D NEVER DESTROY THEIR
VILLAGES --"
"UNLESS THEY'RE VIETNAMESE!"
"AW, C'MON, MATT.
C'MON."
BUT WE'RE GOING TO TURN TO THE
SUPREME COURT, WHICH ON
WEDNESDAY MADE A BIG DECISION.
>> TONIGHT, THE SUPREME COURT
SAYS IT WILL TAKE UP FORMER
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S CLAIM
OF ABSOLUTE PRESIDENTIAL
IMMUNITY, AS HE FACES CRIMINAL
CHARGES BROUGHT BY SPECIAL
COUNSEL JACK SMITH FOR ALLEGED
EFFORTS TO OVERTURN THE RESULTS
OF THE 2020 ELECTION.
THE COURT NOW TAKING ON A
MONUMENTAL UNANSWERED QUESTION:
CAN A FORMER PRESIDENT BE
CRIMINALLY PROSECUTED FOR
ACTIONS TAKEN WHILE IN OFFICE?
>> John: IT'S AN INTERESTING
QUESTION AND, REAL QUICK: YES.
YES, A FORMER PRESIDENT CAN BE
CRIMINALLY PROSECUTED FOR
ACTIONS TAKEN IN OFFICE.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS TO
WHICH THE ANSWER SHOULD BE
OBVIOUS, LIKE "DID ROBERT DURST
KILL THOSE PEOPLE,"
OR "WHICH CEREAL MASCOT FUCKS
THE MOST,"
OR "WHO SHOULD PLAY THE NEXT
BATMAN?"
AND FOR THE RECORD, THE ANSWERS
ARE: ABSOLUTELY -- IT'S NOT EVEN
CLOSE -- AND NATASHA LYONNE.
AND WHEN THIS CASE WAS BEFORE
THE DC CIRCUIT COURT, ONE
EXCHANGE WITH A TRUMP LAWYER
ILLUSTRATED JUST HOW ABSURD
TRUMP'S POSITION IS, AS A JUDGE
POSED THIS WILD HYPOTHETICAL.
>> COULD A PRESIDENT WHO ORDERED
S.E.A.L. TEAM 6 TO ASSASSINATE A
POLITICAL RIVAL, WHO WAS NOT
IMPEACHED, WOULD HE BE SUBJECT
TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION?
>> IF HE WERE IMPEACHED AND
CONVICTED FIRST
>> John: WOW.
ONLY UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS?
IT REALLY FEELS LIKE THE ANSWER
TO "CAN THE PRESIDENT KILL A
GUY" SHOULDN'T BE, "NO, UNLESS
HALF THE PEOPLE IN CONGRESS
THINK THE OTHER GUY HAD IT
COMING."
BUT NO MATTER WHAT THE COURT
DECIDES, THE VERY FACT THEY'RE
TAKING THIS CASE UP AT ALL IS
MEANINGFUL.
>> THE DELAY IS ALREADY
SOMETHING OF A TRUMP VICTORY,
RAISING THE REAL POSSIBILITY
THAT THE TRIAL COULD BE PUSHED
BACK UNTIL AFTER THE
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
>> John: RIGHT.
AND IF TRUMP WINS THAT ELECTION,
WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS THEN?
I MEAN, FINGERS CROSSED THE SUN
EXPLODES, BUT THAT'S AN OUTSIDE
CHANCE.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE CONSEQUENCES
FOR THE INSURRECTION COULD BE
YET ANOTHER THING TRUMP TRIES TO
KICK DOWN THE ROAD, IGNORING IT
AND HOPING IT GOES AWAY, LIKE
HIS VARIOUS DEBTS, MULTIPLE
COURT CASES, AND ACKNOWLEDGING
ANY OF HIS CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAYS.
THOUGH I WILL SAY -- FUN FACT?
THIS ONE'S BIRTHDAY?
JANUARY 6TH.
IT'S TRUE, AND A WONDERFUL
REMINDER THAT TRUMP'S THE ONLY
POLITICIAN IN DC DURING THE RIOT
WHO CONSIDERS THAT TO BE THE
SECOND WORST THING TO HAPPEN TO
HIM ON JANUARY 6TH.
AND ON TOP OF ALL THIS, THE
SUPREME COURT HAS A PRETTY
GLARING CONFLICT OF INTEREST
HERE.
SPECIFICALLY, THIS CONFLICT OF
INTEREST.
BECAUSE CLARENCE THOMAS DOESN'T
SEEM TO HAVE RECUSED HIMSELF
FROM THIS CASE, DESPITE -- AS
WE'VE MENTIONED BEFORE -- HIS
WIFE SUPPORTING TRUMP'S EFFORTS
TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION.
SO, THOMAS IS IN A DIFFICULT
ETHICAL SITUATION HERE, AND IT
FEELS IMPORTANT TO REMIND HIM:
THERE IS A WAY OUT.
A SMOOTH, SPACIOUS, LUXURIOUS
WAY OUT THAT COMES WITH PLENTY
OF GAS MONEY.
BUT THE WINDOW TO TAKE OUR OFFER
CLOSES IN TWO WEEKS, CLARENCE!
SO PLEASE, DO GET IN TOUCH!
I'VE GOT A CONTRACT WITH BOTH OF
OUR NAMES ON IT RIGHT HERE!
TICK TOCK AND MORE IMPORTANTLY
--
[HORN]
EXACTLY.
AND NOW, THIS.
>> ANNOUNCER: AND NOW,
NEWSCASTERS REACT TO A SEASONAL
PHENOMENON.
>> WHILE MANY OF US HAVE BEEN
DEALING WITH FALLING SNOW THIS
WEEK, FLORIDIANS ARE WATCHING
FOR FALLING IGUANAS.
>> THEY ARE COLD-BLOODED
CREATURES, WHICH MEANS THEY TAKE
ON THE TEMPERATURE OF THE
OUTSIDE, AND ONCE IT'S
50 DEGREES -- REMEMBER, THEY
WANT THE WARMTH, SO THEY START
TO SLOW DOWN.
AT 45, THEY ARE OUT.
>> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE UNDER AN
IGUANA ADVISORY.
THAT MEANS TEMPERATURES ARE
GOING TO DROP BELOW -- BETWEEN
38 AND 45 DEGREES.
>> WE HAVE THE IGUANA-CAST
ESPECIALLY FOR YOU, CHRIS.
BECOMING SLUGGISH.
>> NO, THE IGUANAS ARE NOT DEAD.
IT TAKES A LONG TIME AND REALLY
COLD AIR FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, SO
IF YOU SEE AN IGUANA ON THE
GROUND, DO NOT PICK IT UP, DON'T
TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU.
>> YOU THINK THEY'RE NOT WELL
AND THAT YOU PUT THEM IN YOUR
CAR,
BRING THEM TO YOUR HOME TO WARM
THEM UP AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE
OKAY.
THEY WAKE UP WHEN THEY THAW AND
THEY ARE ANGRY.
>> I IMAGINE IT'S LIKE A BEAR
COMING OUT OF HIBERNATION.
THEY'VE GOT THE CLAWS, THE
TEETH, LIKE "LISTEN, I WOKE UP
IN YOUR FOYER.
WHAT'S GOING ON?"
THEY FREAK OUT.
>> THEY FALL OUT OF THE TREES,
AND YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO KILL 'EM
BECAUSE THEY ARE AN INVASIVE
SPECIES.
>> IT'S CRAZY.
>> WHAT?
>> YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO KILL
THEM WHEN THEY ARE STUNNED.
>> John: MOVING ON.
OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT CONCERNS
AIRPLANES.
THE PLACE YOU GO TO SAY "I'LL
GET SOME READING DONE!"
BEFORE WATCHING 9 EPISODES OF
"THE OFFICE" YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN
AND LANDING IN TUCSON.
PLANES MAKE MANY OF US NERVOUS,
EVEN THOUGH COMMERCIAL AIR
TRAVEL IS THE SAFEST FORM OF
MASS TRANSPORTATION.
BUT ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN.
AND THERE WAS ONE RECENTLY THAT
GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.
>> PASSENGERS ARE SHARING THEIR
TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE ON BOARD
AN ALASKAN AIRLINES PLANE THAT
LOST A DOOR PLUG DURING FLIGHT.
WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SHORT
TRIP FROM PORTLAND TO ONTARIO,
CALIFORNIA FOR GARRETT
CUNNINGHAM TURNED OUT TO BE ONE
OF THE MOST FRIGHTENING
EXPERIENCES OF HIS LIFE.
>> A GUSH OF -- OF AIR -- I LOOK
TO MY LEFT, AND PART OF THE
PLANE IS GONE.
MY BRAIN COULDN'T COMPUTE WHAT I
WAS LOOKING AT.
>> John: YEAH, OF COURSE IT
COULDN'T.
OUR MINDS FILTER OUT THINGS THAT
SHOULDN'T MAKE SENSE.
MINE, FOR INSTANCE, REFUSES TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TOMATOES ARE
FRUITS, OR THAT THE SHOEBILL
ISN'T EXTINCT.
DOES THAT REALLY LOOK LIKE
SOMETHING THAT SHOULD EXIST AT
THE SAME TIME AS THE iPAD?
I THINK NOT.
THANKFULLY, THAT FLIGHT LANDED
SAFELY WITH ONLY A FEW INJURIES
BUT EXPERTS SAY THAT WAS MOSTLY
LUCK.
FOR ONE THING, IF SOMEONE HAD
BEEN SITTING IN THE WINDOW SEAT,
WITH THEIR SEATBELT OFF, THEY
COULD'VE BEEN SUCKED OUT OF THE
PLANE.
AND, SECOND, THIS HAPPENED JUST
AFTER TAKEOFF, BUT IF THEY'D
BEEN AT CRUISING ALTITUDE,
INJURIES MIGHT'VE BEEN
CATASTROPHIC.
AND THAT PLANE WAS ALMOST NEW.
IT HAD BEEN DELIVERED BY THE
MANUFACTURER, BOEING, AROUND TWO
MONTHS EARLIER.
AND THAT'S TOO SOON FOR A
SNEAKER TO FALL APART LET ALONE
A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR AIRCRAFT.
NOW: BOEING'S CEO, DAVE CALHOUN,
WAS QUICK TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY, SAYING BOEING IS
ACCOUNTABLE -- BUT WHEN PRESSED
ON EXACTLY WHAT HAD TAKEN PLACE,
HAD AN ODD RESPONSE.
>> HOW DID AN UNSAFE AIRPLANE
FLY IN THE FIRST PLACE?
>> BECAUSE A QUALITY ESCAPE
OCCURRED.
BECAUSE A QUALITY ESCAPE
OCCURRED.
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT
MEANS?
WHAT IS A QUALITY ESCAPE?
>> I THINK THAT'S THE
DESCRIPTION OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE
FINDING IN THEIR INSPECTIONS.
ANYTHING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY
CONTRIBUTE TO AN ACCIDENT.
>> John: WHAT?
QUALITY DIDN'T ESCAPE: A PART OF
THE PLANE DID.
THAT'S A TERRIBLE ANSWER.
WHEN YOU'RE ASKED HOW AN UNSAFE
PLANE FLEW IN THE FIRST PLACE,
WE NEED MORE INFORMATION THAN,
ESSENTIALLY, "THE PLANE WAS
UNSAFE."
YEAH, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT!
THERE'S A FUCKING HOLE IN THE
SIDE.
AND THE EXACT NATURE OF THE
"ESCAPE" IS PRETTY ALARMING,
GIVEN THAT, ACCORDING TO THE
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION, FOUR
BOLTS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO KEEP
THE DOOR PLUG IN PLACE WERE
MISSING.
AND WHEN ALASKA CHECKED THEIR
OTHER MAX-9 PLANES, THEY FOUND
LOOSE BOLTS ON MANY OF THEM.
THE NEXT DAY, THE FAA ANNOUNCED
THAT EVERY BOEING 737-9 MAX WITH
A PLUG DOOR WOULD BE GROUNDED,
UNTIL THEY WERE INSPECTED.
WHICH IS A RELIEF AND, HONESTLY,
KIND OF A FUN IMAGE.
I LIKE TO IMAGINE STERN FAA
INSPECTORS GOING UP TO EACH
PLANE AND SAYING "YOU ARE
GROUNDED, MISSY!
NO IN-FLIGHT TV FOR A MONTH!"
AND YES, PLANES ARE GIRLS.
THINK ABOUT IT: THEY ALWAYS HAVE
SNACKS AND CONSTANTLY SAY
"LEAVING RIGHT NOW!"
AND THEN DON'T MOVE FOR ANOTHER
15 MINUTES.
CASE CLOSED.
IT'S BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE THIS
MIGHT BE A MUCH BROADER ISSUE
WITHIN BOEING.
BECAUSE IT COMES ON THE HEELS OF
A YEARS-LONG STRING OF ALARMING
INCIDENTS -- FROM FIRES ON BOARD
TO A AND JUST THIS WEEK, THE FAA
TO A PAIR OF MASSIVE CRASHES
THAT WERE BLAMED ON FLAWED
BOEING PLANES, AND JUST THIS
WEEK, THE FAA ISSUED A STUNNING
ORDER TO THE COMPANY.
>> THE FEDERAL AVIATION
ADMINISTRATION GAVE BOEING 90
DAYS NOW TO COME UP WITH A PLAN
TO ADDRESS SAFETY ISSUES.
THIS COMES AFTER A REPORT
RELEASED ON MONDAY FOUND
EMPLOYEES DID NOT UNDERSTAND
THEIR ROLE IN SAFETY, AND THEY
FEARED RETALIATION FOR RAISING
SAFETY RELATED CONCERNS.
UH, THOSE ARE BIG PROBLEMS WHEN
YOU'VE GOT A FACTORY THAT IS
MAKING JETS.
>> John: YEAH, OF COURSE!
ALTHOUGH HONESTLY, WORKERS BEING
UNABLE TO RAISE SAFETY CONCERNS
IS A BIG PROBLEM IN A FACTORY
THAT MAKES ANYTHING!
NO ONE WANTS GROCERY STORES
SELLING "CAP'N CRUNCH OOPS, ALL
RAT POISON."
AND ALL OF THIS IS STRIKING, FOR
A COMPANY THAT USED TO BE SEEN
AS ONE OF THE GREATEST IN
AMERICA, AND THAT'S STILL THE
COUNTRY'S LARGEST EXPORTER.
SO IF A COMPANY THIS BIG AND
THIS IMPORTANT SEEMS TO BE THIS
TROUBLED, TONIGHT, LET'S TALK
ABOUT BOEING.
AND LET'S START WITH THE FACT
THAT BOEING USED TO BE
SYNONYMOUS WITH QUALITY AND
CRAFTSMANSHIP.
IT'S WAS FOUNDED BY WILLIAM
BOEING IN 1916, AND OVER THE
YEARS, IT BUILT NEARLY 100,000
PLANES FOR THE ALLIED FORCES,
THE FIRST STAGE OF THE SATURN V
ROCKET, AND AIR FORCE ONE.
BUT THEY'RE BEST KNOWN FOR
REVOLUTIONIZING COMMERCIAL
AVIATION.
IN 1967, BOEING INTRODUCED THE
737, AND HAVE MADE OVER 10,000
OF THEM SINCE.
AND THE COMPANY'S SUCCESS RESTS
HEAVILY ON ITS WELL-EARNED
REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE --
LIKE IN THIS VIDEO FROM AN
ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING.
>> THE FIRST STEP IN MAKING A
DIFFERENCE IS BELIEVING YOU CAN.
>> WE MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPEN
ON A REGULAR BASIS SO IT CAN BE
DONE, YOU JUST HAVE TO THINK OF
A NEW WAY TO DO IT.
>> LET'S JUST DO IT RIGHT.
WHATEVER IT IS, QUALITY, SAFETY,
ENVIRONMENT, DO IT RIGHT AND
MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN
BE PROUD OF.
>> I WANTED TO DEVELOP PRODUCT
THAT HAD A GLOBAL REACH AND A
GLOBAL IMPACT.
AND I'M DOING IT NOW.
>> John: THAT SOUNDS PRETTY
GOOD!
"WE DO THE IMPOSSIBLE" GREAT!
LOVE THE IMPOSSIBLE.
"LET'S JUST DO IT RIGHT!"
YES!
LET'S!
WRONG FEELS LIKE A BAD WAY TO DO
IT!
"I WANTED TO DEVELOP A GLOBALLY
IMPACTFUL PRODUCT AND I DID!"
GOOD FOR YOU!
YOU'RE A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO THE
CAMERA, BUT IN GENERAL, I'M ON
BOARD!
IN FACT, BOEING HAD SUCH A GREAT
REPUTATION FOR SAFETY AMONG
PILOTS, THERE WAS EVEN A COMMON
SAYING: "IF IT AIN'T BOEING, I
AIN'T GOING," WHICH THE COMPANY
PUT ON T-SHIRTS, LANYARDS, AND
MUGS THAT YOU CAN STILL BUY ON
THEIR WEBSITE -- ALL PERFECT
GIFTS FOR SOMEONE WHO LOVES
BRANDED MERCH AND DOES NOT LOVE
FOLLOWING THE NEWS.
THAT STELLAR REPUTATION HAS BEEN
CREDITED TO THE COMPANY'S
ENGINEER-CENTERED OPEN CULTURE.
WILLIAM BOEING HIMSELF ONCE
SAID, AFTER NOTICING SOME SHODDY
WORKMANSHIP ON HIS PRODUCTION
LINE, THAT HE WOULD "CLOSE UP
SHOP RATHER THAN SEND OUT WORK
OF THIS KIND."
AND ONE PROJECT LEADER IN THE
'80S AND EARLY '90S IS
REMEMBERED FOR SAYING "NO
SECRETS," AND "THE ONLY THING
THAT WILL MAKE ME RIP OFF YOUR
HEAD AND SHIT DOWN YOUR NECK IS
WITHHOLDING INFORMATION."
AND I'M SORRY -- THAT SHOULD BE
THE MUG.
YOU WANT TO SHIFT MERCH?
THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT.
BUT IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT WE'RE
A LONG WAY FROM THAT CULTURE
TODAY.
AND MOST OBSERVERS WILL TRACE
THE SHIFT BACK TO THIS PIVOTAL
EVENT.
>> A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY IN
THE WORLD OF AVIATION: BOEING
AND MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TODAY
ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WOULD JOIN
TOGETHER TO FORM THE WORLD'S
LARGEST AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER.
>> THIS IS, I BELIEVE, AN
HISTORIC MOMENT IN AVIATION AND
AEROSPACE.
>> John: YEAH, THE SKY BOYS GOT
BUSINESS MARRIED!
BOEING MERGED WITH MCDONNELL
DOUGLAS, WHO WERE PRIMARILY
KNOWN FOR MILITARY PLANES, AND
HAD A LOUSY REPUTATION FOR
COMMERCIAL AIRLINERS -- MOST
NOTABLY THE DC10, WHICH HAD
MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS RESULTING IN
OVER 1,100 PASSENGER FATALITIES.
AND LOOK -- WAS MERGING WITH THE
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AREOSPACE
MANUFACTURING CORPORATION/MURDER
EMPORIUM THAT BOEING CEO'S WORST
DECISION?
PROBABLY NOT, BECAUSE HE ALSO --
AND THIS IS TRUE -- MARRIED HIS
FIRST COUSIN, SO THE LAST
DECISION I'D ASK THIS GUY TO
MAKE IS WHO IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO
COUPLE UP WITH.
AND WHILE BOEING WAS THE
ACQUIRER IN THE PARTNERSHIP, IT
SOON BECAME CLEAR THAT THE
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS CULTURE --
WHICH WAS MUCH MORE CUTTHROAT
AND PROFIT-DRIVEN -- WAS GOING
TO BECOME DOMINANT.
EARLY ON, THE MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
MANAGEMENT TEAM EVEN GAVE THEIR
BOEING COUNTERPARTS A PLAQUE
FEATURING AN ECONOMIST MAGAZINE
COVER ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF
CORPORATE MERGERS.
WHICH SOUNDS BENIGN UNTIL YOU
SEE THAT THE ACTUAL COVER WAS
THIS PICTURE OF TWO CAMELS
FUCKING, AND MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
EXECS ADDED THE LINE "WHO'S ON
TOP?"
AND SETTING ASIDE THE WEIRDNESS
OF GIFTING YOUR COWORKERS CAMEL
PORN, IT BEGS THE QUESTION: WHAT
WAS GOING ON AT "THE ECONOMIST"
BACK THEN?
SPARE A THOUGHT FOR THE EMPLOYEE
WHO DREAMT OF DOING BUSINESS
JOURNALISM, ONLY TO FIND
THEMSELVES DIGGING THROUGH
PHOTOS OF HORNED-UP CAMEL SLUTS
BANGING IN THE DIRT.
A YEAR AFTER THE MERGER WAS
FINALIZED, BOEING ANNOUNCED A
NEW STOCK BUYBACK PROGRAM,
TAKING COMPANY MONEY THAT COULD
HAVE GONE TO MAKING PLANES AND
USING IT TO INFLATE STOCK PRICES
INSTEAD.
AND EVEN MECHANICS AT THE
COMPANY NOTICED THE CULTURE
SHIFT.
>> THERE WAS A MAJOR CAMPAIGN
LAUNCHED CALLED SHARE VALUE, AND
THE IDEA WAS THAT THEY WANTED
EVERYBODY TO BE AWARE OF THE
STOCK PRICE, AND THEY WANTED
EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER TO
INCREASE THE STOCK VALUE.
EVEN THE TECHNICAL MEETINGS,
EVERYTHING REVOLVED AROUND
BOEING STOCK PRICES.
>> John: THAT'S NOT REASSURING,
BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHERE YOU
WANT THEIR PRIORITIES FOCUSED.
NO ONE WANTS TO GET ON A PLANE
AND HEAR, "GOOD AFTERNOON, THIS
IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING, WE HAD
A FEW TECHNICAL PROBLEMS BUT OUR
MAINTENANCE CREW'S ASSURED US
THAT THE STOCK PRICE IS STILL
HOLDING STRONG, SO LET'S GET
THIS BIG METAL TUBE FULL OF YOU
AND YOUR LOVED ONES UP IN THE
SKY, SHALL WE?"
AND THE CULTURE CHANGE WAS
SOLIDIFIED BY THE DECISION TO
RELOCATE THE CORPORATE
HEADQUARTERS FROM SEATTLE --
WHERE THE PLANES WERE ACTUALLY
DESIGNED AND BUILT --
2,000 MILES AWAY TO CHICAGO.
BECAUSE, AS THEIR CEO PUT IT
"WHEN THE HEADQUARTERS IS
LOCATED IN PROXIMITY TO A
PRINCIPAL BUSINESS...
THE CORPORATE CENTER IS
INEVITABLY DRAWN INTO DAY-TO-DAY
BUSINESS OPERATIONS."
AND YEAH!
YOU SHOULD BE!
YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY SAYING, "HEY,
WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING BIG
BUSINESS DECISIONS OVER HERE, WE
DON'T NEED TO BE BOTHERED WITH
YOU NERDS AND YOUR 'KEEPING
PLANES IN THE AIR' BULLSHIT."
NOW, CEO PHIL CONDIT SOON LEFT
THE COMPANY AMID A CONTRACTING
SCANDAL, AND WAS REPLACED BY
HARRY STONECIPHER, THE FORMER
CEO OF MCDONNELL DOUGLAS.
HE WAS AN AGGRESSIVE COST CUTTER
WHO PUSHED BOEING'S MANAGEMENT
TO PLAY TOUGHER WITH ITS
WORKFORCE, AND TO INTRODUCE THE
SLOGAN, "LESS FAMILY, MORE
TEAM."
WHICH, FRANKLY, WOULD HAVE BEEN
GREAT ADVICE FOR PHIL CONDIT
WHILE HE WAS CHOOSING A ROMANTIC
PARTNER.
"LESS FAMILY, PHIL.
YOU WANT TO BE A TEAM.
BUT, LIKE, NOT ONE THAT'S
RELATED BY BLOOD."
BUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE WHOLE
"STOCK PRICE-FIRST" APPROACH
SOON BECAME APPARENT DURING THE
PRODUCTION OF THE 787
DREAMLINER.
IT WAS A NEW, LIGHTER PLANE
BOEING ANNOUNCED IN 2004, BUT
STONECIPHER DRASTICALLY CUT THE
R&D BUDGET -- YOU KNOW, THE
MONEY FOR "CREATING THE PLANE"
-- EVEN AS THE COMPANY
AUTHORIZED LARGE STOCK BUYBACKS
AND DIVIDENDS FOR INVESTORS.
UNDER HIS PLANS, THE DREAMLINER
WOULD BE DEVELOPED FOR LESS THAN
HALF OF WHAT THEIR PREVIOUS NEW
PLANE HAD COST.
BOEING ALSO SOUGHT SAVINGS BY
OUTSOURCING PRODUCTION TO ABOUT
50 SUPPLIERS, EACH OF WHOM WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING ITS OWN
SUBCONTRACTORS.
SO BASICALLY, THE PLAN WAS FOR
BOEING TO "CREATE" THE PLANE THE
SAME WAY SOMEONE "CREATES" A
GINGER BREAD HOUSE FROM A KIT:
ESSENTIALLY ASSEMBLING A BUNCH
OF PIECES OTHER PEOPLE MADE,
LEADING TO A FINISHED PRODUCT
THAT, STRUCTURALLY-SPEAKING, WAS
ALWAYS GOING TO BE A FUCKING
MESS.
AND YEARS LATER, BOEING ITSELF
PRODUCED A PROMOTIONAL VIDEO
THAT ADMITTED THAT PLAN WAS A
FIASCO.
>> EXECUTING A PROJECT OF SUCH
COMPLEXITY PROVED TO BE MORE
THAN SOME SUPPLIERS COULD
HANDLE.
WRINKLES WERE FOUND IN THE
COMPOSITE SKINS FROM ONE
SUPPLIER.
FASTENERS WERE INCORRECTLY
SECURED ON SECTIONS OF THE TAIL.
THERE WERE GAPS BETWEEN UNITS
THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO FIT
TIGHTLY TOGETHER.
>> WE HAD OUR PARTNERS, AND THEN
THEY HAD PARTNERS WHO HAD
PARTNERS, AND THE DIFFERENT
CULTURES, AND THE COMMUNICATION
WAS VERY CHALLENGING AND ADDED A
LOT OF COMPLEXITY.
>> John: YOU KNOW, IT'S NEVER A
GREAT SIGN WHEN YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS
FOR A PLANE THE SAME WAY A
DOOMED OPEN THROUPLE TALKS ABOUT
THEIR PRIVATE LIFE: WE HAD OUR
PARTNERS, AND THEN THEY HAD
PARTNERS WHO HAD PARTNERS, AND
COMMUNICATION WAS VERY
CHALLENGING AND ADDED A LOT OF
COMPLEXITY, AND LONG STORY
SHORT, NOW WE ALL HAVE
CHLAMYDIA."
AND ON TOP OF THAT, STONECIPHER
WAS FORCED TO RESIGN, IN THE
WAKE OF AN AFFAIR WITH A BOEING
VP, AND WAS REPLACED BY THE
COMPANY'S THIRD CEO IN AS MANY
YEARS, JIM MCNERNEY WHO -- IF
ANYTHING -- ACCELERATED THE
COST-CUTTING.
BUT DESPITE ALL THE SETBACKS
FROM OUTSOURCING, BOEING MANAGED
TO ROLL OUT THE DREAMLINER ON
TIME IN AN ELABORATE CEREMONY IN
2007 -- EXCEPT THERE WAS ONE
SMALL CATCH.
>> WE WERE ALL INSIDE THE
FACTORY WITH ARTIFICIAL
LIGHTING, BIG STAGE, TOM BROKAW,
HUGE SCREENS.
THEN THEY OPENED THE DOORS OF
THIS GIANT ASSEMBLY BAY, AND IN
ROLLS THIS BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL
AIRCRAFT.
>> WE LEARNED THAT THE WHOLE
THING WAS A SHAM.
>> BEAUTIFUL,ISN'T IT?
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
>> I REALIZED THE DOORS WERE
MADE OF PLYWOOD.
>> THIS PLANE THAT WE WERE
ADMIRING WAS COMPLETELY A SHELL
INSIDE.
>> WHAT I REALIZED WALKING
AROUND IT IS THAT YOU COULD, YOU
KNOW, LOOK UP IN THE WHEEL WELL
AND YOU COULD SEE DAYLIGHT.
>> John: WOW, WHAT A HISTORIC
MOMENT!
EXCITING TO SEE THE UNVEILING OF
THE FIRST AIRPLANE MADE ENTIRELY
OUT OF PLYWOOD AND LIES!
THE PLANE WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE
ITS FIRST TEST FLIGHT WITHIN TWO
MONTHS OF THAT LAUNCH, BUT
UNSURPRISINGLY, THAT DIDN'T
HAPPEN.
IN FACT, THE DREAMLINER DIDN'T
CARRY COMMERCIAL PASSENGERS FOR
YEARS, FINALLY DELIVERING PLANES
THREE YEARS LATE, AND $25
BILLION OVER BUDGET.
AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, THERE
WERE PROBLEMS.
MULTIPLE PLANES HAD FIRES ON
BOARD, INCLUDING TWO IN BOSTON
AND JAPAN WITHIN NINE DAYS OF
EACH OTHER, WHICH INVESTIGATIONS
LINKED TO A DEFECTIVE BATTERY,
MADE BY A SUBCONTRACTOR THAT
BOEING HAD NEVER AUDITED.
SO THE FAA GROUNDED THE
DREAMLINER -- THE FIRST TIME IT
HAD GROUNDED AN AIRPLANE MODEL
SINCE THE MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
DC10 IN 1979 -- AGAIN, MAKING
IN 1979 -- AGAIN, MAKING PRETTY
CLEAR THAT THE WRONG ATTITUDES
HAD PREVAILED AFTER THE MERGER.
BASICALLY, THE WRONG CAMEL CAME
OUT ON TOP.
INVESTIGATIONS REVEALED THAT
PEOPLE BUILDING THE DREAMLINER
WERE WORRIED ABOUT ITS SAFETY.
IN 2014, AL JAZEERA RELEASED
HIDDEN CAMERA FOOTAGE OF A
WORKER AT A DREAMLINER PLANT,
ASKING FELLOW EMPLOYEES A PRETTY
POINTED QUESTION.
>> WOULD YOU FLY ON ONE?
>> UM, NO.
>> YOU WON'T FLY ON ONE?
>> NO.
>> WOULD YOU FLY ON ONE OF THESE
PLANES?
>> I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, I THOUGHT
ABOUT IT, NO, NOT REALLY.
>> WOULD YOU FLY ON ONE OF THESE
[BLEEP]?
>> PROBABLY NOT.
>> I WOULDN'T FLY ON ONE OF
THESE PLANES.
>> YOU WOULDN'T?
WHY WOULDN'T YOU?
>> HUH?
>> WHY WOULDN'T YA?
>> BECAUSE I SEE THE QUALITY OF
THE [BLEEP] GOING DOWN AROUND
HERE.
>> WOULD YOU FLY ON ONE OF
THESE?
>> YEAH, BUT IT'S SKETCHY.
>> SKETCHY?
>> YEAH, I PROBABLY WOULD, BUT I
HAVE KIND OF A DEATH WISH TOO.
SMACK
[LAUGHS]
>> John: YEAH.
OUT OF 15 WORKERS HE ASKED, TEN
SAID THEY WOULDN'T FLY ON THAT
PLANE.
AND HONESTLY, THAT LAST GUY'S
ALMOST WORSE.
BECAUSE IF I HAD TO PICK BETWEEN
PLANE THAT TWO-THIRDS OF WORKERS
REFUSED TO GET ON, AND ONE THAT
WOULD ONLY BE RIDDEN BY DEATH
WISH DAVE, I'D PICK THE FORMER
EVERY TIME.
BUT, WHILE THE DREAMLINER HAD
ITS PROBLEMS, AT LEAST IT NEVER
HAD A FATAL ACCIDENT.
BUT THAT CAN'T BE SAID FOR
BOEING'S NEXT PLANE, THE 737
MAX.
IN 2011, AS BOEING WAS ROLLING
OUT THE DREAMLINER, ITS MAIN
COMPETITOR, AIRBUS, WAS
UNVEILING THE A320NEO, A
FUEL-EFFICIENT UPDATE OF THEIR
ALREADY POPULAR A320 PLANES,
WHICH WAS A WILD SUCCESS.
BOEING, CAUGHT COMPLETELY
OFF-GUARD, QUICKLY ANNOUNCED A
NEW FUEL-EFFICIENT PLANE IT
HADN'T EVEN ENGINEERED YET, THE
737 MAX.
AND THEY WANTED TO GET IT OUT
THE DOOR AS QUICKLY, AND AS
CHEAPLY, AS POSSIBLE.
MCNERNEY EVEN HAD A CATCHPHRASE,
"MORE FOR LESS," WHICH BECAME
THE COMPANY'S DRIVING THEME AS
IT EMBARKED ON THE MAX.
AND ALL THE WHILE, McNERNEY
AND HIS
SUCCESSOR AS CEO, DENNIS
MUILENBURG, SIGNED OFF, YET
AGAIN, ON MASSIVE STOCK
BUYBACKS.
FROM 2014 TO 2018, BOEING
DIVERTED 92% OF ITS OPERATING
CASH FLOW TO DIVIDENDS AND SHARE
BUYBACKS TO BENEFIT INVESTORS,
FAR EXCEEDING THE MONEY IT SPENT
ON R&D FOR NEW PLANES.
WORKERS ON THE PRODUCTION LINE
FOR THE MAX DESCRIBED A PROCESS
THAT VALUED SPEED OVER SAFETY.
AND ONE, A MILITARY VETERAN,
WORRIED THAT CORNERS WERE BEING
CUT.
>> WHAT WORDS WOULD YOU USE TO
DESCRIBE THAT FACTORY AT THAT
POINT?
>> DANGEROUS.
UM, TAKING UNNECESSARY RISKS.
>> HE SAYS HE URGED THE BOEING
MANAGER TO SHUT DOWN THE FACTORY
FOR A FEW WEEKS TO STRAIGHTEN
THINGS OUT.
AND WHAT WAS HIS REACTION TO
THAT?
>> HE SAID, YOU KNOW, "WE CAN'T
SHUT DOWN" AND THEN I GOT MAD
AND SAID "YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN
MILITARY OPERATIONS SHUT DOWN
FOR A LOT LESS."
>> WHAT WAS HIS REPLY TO THAT?
>> SOMETHING I'LL NEVER FORGET.
HE SAID -- HE SAID, "WELL,
MILITARY IS NOT A PROFIT-MAKING
ORGANIZATION."
>> John: WOW.
WHAT A RESPONSE!
IN A WAY, YOU'RE RIGHT: THE
MILITARY ISN'T PROFIT DRIVEN --
BUT THEY DO HAVE, PRETTY
FAMOUSLY, A HIGH APPETITE FOR
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.
SOMEONE WHO WORK THERE IS GOING
"SLOW DOWN A BIT," THAT SEEMS
LIKE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD GIVE
YOU PAUSE.
SO, THE MAX WAS RUSHED THROUGH
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION, AND WITH
TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES.
ON OCTOBER 29, 2018 A LION AIR
FLIGHT BOUND FOR INDONESIA
CARRYING 189 PEOPLE INCLUDING
THREE CHILDREN DISAPPEARED FROM
RADAR JUST MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF
AND WAS FOUND TO HAVE CRASHED
INTO THE WATER.
NO ONE ON BOARD SURVIVED.
INVESTIGATIONS LATER REVEALED
THAT THE PLANE'S SAFETY HAD BEEN
COMPROMISED BY A SERIES OF
SHORTSIGHTED DECISIONS BOEING
HAD MADE.
STARTING WITH THE FACT THAT, TO
SAVE MONEY AND REDUCE REGULATORY
SCRUTINY, BOEING HAD DECIDED IT
WASN'T GOING TO BUILD A NEW
PLANE, IT WAS JUST GOING TO
RAPIDLY MODIFY ITS EXISTING 737
MODEL, GIVING IT NEW, MUCH
BIGGER ENGINES.
BUT THAT BROUGHT SOME
SIGNIFICANT COMPLICATIONS.
>> BECAUSE THESE ENGINES ARE
BIGGER, THEY HAD TO BE
POSITIONED FURTHER FORWARD AND
HIGHER UP ON THE WINGS.
AND SO, BOEING WAS WORRIED ABOUT
THE PLANE GETTING INTO TOO MUCH
OF A NOSE UP, AND THEN THE PLANE
COULD STALL.
SO, IF IT STARTS TO PITCH UP,
MCAS WAS DESIGNED TO HELP THE
PILOT LEVEL THE PLANE OUT.
>> John: YEAH, THEY ADDED A
SYSTEM CALLED MCAS, OR
"MANEUVERING CHARACTERISTICS
AUGMENTATION SYSTEM."
VERY BASICALLY, WHEN THE PLANE
CAME CLOSE TO A SITUATION IN
WHICH IT MIGHT STALL, MCAS WOULD
-- IN TECHNICAL TERMS -- SWIVEL
THE HORIZONTAL TAIL FIN TO LIFT
THE TAIL UP AND PUSH THE NOSE
DOWN.
OR IN NON-TECHNICAL TERMS: MAKE
THE PLANE GO FACE DOWN, ASS UP.
BUT THERE WAS A FATAL FLAW: MCAS
-- WHICH, AGAIN, COULD PUSH A
PLANE'S NOSE DOWN ON ITS OWN --
COULD BE ACTIVATED BY A SINGLE
SENSOR.
>> THE ANGLE OF ATTACK SENSORS
PROTRUDE OUT ON EITHER SIDE OF
THE FUSELAGE NEAR THE COCKPIT.
IF A "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" MYLAR
BALLOON GETS STUCK ON THAT VANE,
IT BECOMES UNRELIABLE.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE HIT
BALLOONS.
WE HIT BIRDS.
AND ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE NOT
UNCOMMON.
>> John: IT'S TRUE.
THE WHOLE SYSTEM COULD BE
COMPROMISED BY A BALLOON -- A
TESTAMENT TO HOW PROBLEMATIC IT
IS TO USE A SINGLE SENSOR.
AND YET ANOTHER REASON TO HATE
BALLOONS: THEY'RE EXHAUSTING TO
INFLATE, THEY SCARE THE SHIT OUT
OF YOU WHEN THEY POP, AND
UNINFLATED, THEY JUST LOOK LIKE
A PILE OF CLOWN CONDOMS.
BALLOONS ARE TERRIBLE.
BUT IT GETS WORSE.
BOEING DIDN'T TELL PILOTS ABOUT
MCAS.
BECAUSE, REMEMBER: THEY HAD
DECIDED TO MARKET THE PLANE TO
AIRLINES AS A MONEY-SAVER.
AND A MASSIVE SELLING POINT WAS
THAT THE MAX WOULDN'T REQUIRE
PILOTS TO BE RE-TRAINED IN A
FLIGHT SIMULATOR.
THAT'S A PRETTY BIG EXPENSE FOR
AN AIRLINE, AS IT TAKES PILOTS
OUT OF THE AIR FOR MULTIPLE
DAYS.
BOEING WAS WORRIED THAT, IF THEY
EMPHASIZED MCAS AS SOMETHING
NEW, IT MIGHT REQUIRE MORE
TRAINING.
SO IT TOLD AIRLINES AND
REGULATORS THAT THE MAX WAS SO
SIMILAR TO THE OLD 737,
SIMULATOR TRAINING WOULDN'T BE
NECESSARY.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING EVEN THE
MOTHER OF ONE OF THE LION AIR
PILOTS WHOSE FLIGHT CRASHED
THOUGHT WAS A BIT WEIRD AT THE
TIME.
>> I SAID, "YOU HAVEN'T HAD A
SIMULATOR TRAINING.
HOW CAN YOU GO FOR MAX?
IT IS A MORE POWERFUL ENGINE.
SO, WITHOUT A SIMULATOR, HOW
WILL YOU MANAGE?"
HE SAID, "MOM, I'VE BEEN GIVEN
GROUND TRAINING.
THEY HAVE GIVEN ME A TRAINING ON
iPAD."
I SAID, "WHAT, AN iPAD?"
>> John: WOW.
THAT'S WILD.
IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT iPADS ARE
REPLACING HALF THE STAFF AT
PANERA BREAD, IT'S WORSE WHEN
THEY'RE REPLACING PRACTICAL
TRAINING FOR DANGEROUS JOBS.
BOEING GAVE PILOTS A TWO-HOUR
iPAD TRAINING COURSE THAT NEVER
ONCE MENTIONED MCAS.
WHAT'S MORE, IT WASN'T IN THE
MANUAL AT ALL, UNLESS YOU COUNT
THE GLOSSARY WHICH DEFINED THE
TERM BUT DIDN'T EXPLAIN WHAT IT
DID.
AND IT TURNED OUT THAT A FAULTY
MCAS ACTIVATION WAS WHAT HAD
DOOMED THAT LION AIR FLIGHT.
AND WHEN AMERICAN AIRLINES
PILOTS MET WITH BOEING
EXECUTIVES AFTER THE CRASH, AND
ANGRILY POINTED OUT NO ONE HAD
BEEN TOLD ABOUT MCAS, THE ANSWER
THEY GOT WAS RIDICULOUS.
>> THESE GUYS DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
THE DAMN SYSTEM WAS ON THE
AIRPLANE, NOR DID ANYBODY ELSE.
>> WE TRY NOT TO OVERLOAD THE
CREWS WITH INFORMATION THAT'S
UNNECESSARY.
>> I WOULD THINK THAT THERE
WOULD BE A PRIORITY ON PUTTING
THINGS -- EXPLANATIONS OF THINGS
THAT COULD KILL YOU.
>> John: EXACTLY!
HOW IS INFORMATION ABOUT A
SYSTEM THAT COULD CRASH THE
PLANE UNNECESSARY?
IT'S NOT "ALL FRUIT LOOPS ARE
THE SAME FLAVOR," OR "IDENTICAL
TWINS DON'T HAVE THE SAME
FINGERPRINTS," OR "IF YOU GIVE A
MIRROR TO A DOLPHIN, THEY'LL
ADMIRE THEIR OWN GENITALS."
ALL OF THAT'S GOOD, BUT
ALL OF THAT IS GOOD INFORMATION,
BUT UNNECESSARY FOR PILOT TO
KNOW.
BUT "HEY WE PUT SOME SOFTWARE ON
THE PLANE THAT MIGHT TRY AND
MURDER YOU" FEELS IMPORTANT.
IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE CRASH,
BOEING TOLD U.S. AIRLINE PILOTS
THAT THEY'D HAVE A SOFTWARE FIX
FOR MCAS READY WITHIN ABOUT SIX
WEEKS, AND THE MAX WAS ALLOWED
TO KEEP FLYING.
BUT, THEY DIDN'T.
THE ONLY THING THEY ACCOMPLISHED
IN THOSE SIX WEEKS WERE --
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BELIEVE
THIS -- AUTHORIZING A RECORD $20
BILLION OF STOCK BUYBACKS.
SO CLEARLY, THEY WERE CONCERNED
ABOUT SAFETY.
SPECIFICALLY, THE SAFETY OF
THEIR FUCKING STOCK PRICE.
AND SO, A LITTLE OVER FOUR
MONTHS AFTER THE CRASH, WHILE
BOEING WAS STILL WORKING ON ITS
SIX-WEEK "SOFTWARE FIX,"
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 302, A
737 MAX JET, CRASHED, AFTER MCAS
ACTIVATED ERRONEOUSLY AGAIN,
KILLING EVERYONE ON BOARD.
AND BY THAT POINT, THOSE PILOTS
KNEW WHAT MCAS WAS.
BUT THEY STILL WEREN'T ABLE TO
CORRECT ITS ERRONEOUS ACTIVATION
IN TIME.
THREE DAYS LATER, THE FAA
FINALLY GROUNDED THE MAX, BUT
ONLY AFTER ALL THESE COUNTRIES
HAD FIRST.
IT WAS GROUNDED FOR ALMOST TWO
YEARS, UNTIL BOEING DEVELOPED
WAYS TO MAKE MCAS LESS
ERROR-PRONE AND EASIER TO
OVERRIDE.
AND A DAMNING CONGRESSIONAL
INVESTIGATION LATER REVEALED
INTERNAL MESSAGES SHOWING THAT
BOEING KNEW HOW DANGEROUS MCAS
WAS THROUGHOUT THE PLANE'S
DEVELOPMENT.
IN 2012, ONE OF BOEING'S OWN
TEST PILOTS HAD FAILED TO
RECOVER FROM MCAS ACTIVATING IN
A FLIGHT SIMULATOR, A SITUATION
HE DESCRIBED AS "CATASTROPHIC."
AND SOME OF THE MESSAGES BETWEEN
BOEING EMPLOYEES ARE DAMNING.
>> HUNDREDS OF EMAILS AND
INSTANT MESSAGES SHOW EMPLOYEES
MOCKING THE FAA, THE COMPANY,
AND PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE.
ONE WRITING, "THIS AIRPLANE IS
DESIGNED BY CLOWNS, WHO IN TURN
ARE SUPERVISED BY MONKEYS."
>> John: THAT'S PRETTY BAD!
THOUGH I KIND OF WISH HE'D KEPT
GOING: "THEY'RE DESIGNED BY
CLOWNS, WHO ARE SUPERVISED BY
MONKEYS, WHO REPORT TO
CAFFEINATED TODDLERS, WHO ARE
OVERSEEN BY A BUNCH OF FLOPPY
PUPPIES, WHO ARE MONITORED BY A
WASTED BACHELORETTE PARTY, WHOSE
BOSS IS JUST A LARGE INFLATABLE
TUBE MAN."
SO, AT THIS POINT, YOU MIGHT
REASONABLY BE ASKING "WHERE THE
FUCK ARE THE REGULATORS?
SHOULDN'T THE FAA HAVE CAUGHT
THIS BEFORE PEOPLE DIED?"
AND GIVEN THAT THE ANSWER IS
DEFINITELY YES, WHAT HAPPENED?
WELL, THE AGENCY RELIED HEAVILY
ON BOEING EMPLOYEES TO VOUCH FOR
THE MAX'S SAFETY, BECAUSE THEY
LACKED THE ABILITY TO
EFFECTIVELY ANALYZE MUCH OF WHAT
BOEING SHARED ABOUT THEIR NEW
PLANE.
ONE EMPLOYEE EVEN SAID HE
THOUGHT A PRESENTATION FOR
REGULATORS WAS "LIKE DOGS
WATCHING TV," BECAUSE THEY
DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE
SEEING.
AND I REALLY HOPE THAT'S NOT
TRUE.
I HOPE DOGS UNDERSTAND WHAT
THEY'RE WATCHING ON TV.
OTHERWISE, I DID THOSE DEEP
DIVES ON "SQUIRRELS!"
"BREATHING OUT OF A FUCKED UP
LITTLE NOSE" AND "POODLE ANUSES"
FOR NO REASON AT ALL.
AND INCREDIBLY, MUCH OF THE
OVERSIGHT WAS BEING DONE BY
BOEING ITSELF.
>> FOR FIVE DECADES,
MANUFACTURERS LIKE BOEING WERE
ALLOWED TO USE WHAT THEY CALL
FAA DESIGNATED INSPECTORS, FIRST
TO CERTIFY THAT THE PLANES WERE
AIRWORTHY IN THE BEGINNING, AND
THEN ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE TO
INSPECT EACH PLANE AS IT WENT
DOWN THE LINE.
HERE'S THE PROBLEM: THOSE FAA
INSPECTORS WERE EMPLOYED BY
BOEING.
THERE'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST
THERE.
>> John: OF COURSE THERE IS!
BOEING WAS PAYING BOEING
EMPLOYEES TO REGULATE BOEING.
IT'S THE MOST INCESTUOUS
RELATIONSHIP WE'VE SEEN IN THIS
STORY SO FAR, WHICH IS SAYING
SOMETHING BECAUSE, REMEMBER,
THIS GUY WAS FUCKING HIS FIRST
COUSIN.
AND WHILE THIS SYSTEM OF
SELF-REGULATION HAS BEEN IN
PLACE FOR DECADES, IT WAS
SUPERCHARGED FROM 2005 ONWARDS,
AFTER BOEING SUCCESSFULLY
LOBBIED TO REDUCE GOVERNMENT
OVERSIGHT OF AIRPLANE DESIGNS,
BASICALLY ALLOWING IT TO
REGULATE ITSELF EVEN MORE.
AND UNSURPRISINGLY, SEVERAL OF
THESE BOEING-EMPLOYED
"REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FAA"
HAVE SAID THEY FACED HEAVY
PRESSURE FROM MANAGERS TO LIMIT
SAFETY ANALYSIS AND TESTING SO
THE COMPANY COULD MEET ITS
SCHEDULE AND KEEP DOWN COSTS.
AT EVERY POINT ALONG THE WAY,
THE FAA EITHER DELEGATED
RESPONSIBILITY TO BOEING, OR
GAVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE
DOUBT.
WHICH HOPEFULLY THEY WILL NEVER
DO AGAIN.
BECAUSE BOEING -- LIKE SO MANY
AMERICAN COMPANIES -- SEEMS TO
BE COASTING ON A REPUTATION IT
BUILT UP OVER DECADES, EVEN AS
IT SQUANDERS IT QUARTER BY
QUARTER.
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING "HEY,
JOHN, DON'T YOU WORK FOR A
PRESTIGE COMPANY THAT GOT TAKEN
OVER, AND HAD THE NAME "MAX"
SLAPPED ON ITS SIGNATURE
PRODUCT?"
HEY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT, THIS SITUATION IS
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
NEW BUSINESS DADDY IS SO MAD AT
US ALL THE TIME.
SO, WHAT NOW?
WELL, THE TRUTH IS: BOEING'S NOT
GOING OUT OF BUSINESS ANYTIME
SOON.
IT'S ONE OF JUST TWO MAJOR
COMMERCIAL AIRPLANE
MANUFACTURERS IN THE WORLD.
SO WE DON'T NEED THEM TO
DISAPPEAR.
WE NEED THEM TO GET BETTER.
THE KEY QUESTION IS -- CAN THEY
FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE?
WELL, THANKS IN PART TO PRESSURE
FROM THE FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED
ONES IN THOSE CRASHES, CONGRESS
DID PASS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION
ROLLING BACK SOME OF BOEING'S
ABILITY TO OVERSEE ITS OWN
PLANES.
AND IT'S ENCOURAGING THAT THE
FAA IS NOW INSISTING BOEING COME
UP WITH A PLAN TO ADDRESS SAFETY
IN 90 DAYS -- ALTHOUGH WE'LL SEE
WHAT THAT BRINGS.
AND BOEING WANTS ME TO TELL YOU
AND BOEING WILL SAY THAT IT
KNOWS ITS MADE MISTAKES IN THE
PAST, BUT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP
OF THEIR CEO, DAVE CALHOUN --
YOU KNOW, MR. QUALITY ESCAPE --
THEY ARE APPROACHING THE
CHALLENGES THEY CURRENTLY FACE
WITH A NEW SPIRIT OF
ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMPLETE
TRANSPARENCY.
BUT IT'S HARD TO TRUST THAT,
GIVEN THAT CALHOUN SERVED ON
BOEING'S BOARD SINCE 2009,
THROUGH MOST OF THE BAD
DECISIONS YOU SAW TONIGHT.
AND THERE'S ALSO THE FACT THAT
737 MAX 8 AND 9 PLANES ARE STILL
FLYING DESPITE AN FAA DIRECTIVE
LAST AUGUST HIGHLIGHTING A
SERIOUS NEW ISSUE, WARNING THAT
IF PILOTS ON THE MAX USED AN
ENGINE ANTI-ICING SYSTEM -- WHAT
ONE PILOT DESCRIBED TO US AS THE
EQUIVALENT OF A CAR'S BACK
WINDSHIELD "DEFOGGER" -- IN DRY
AIR FOR MORE THAN FIVE-MINUTES
-- IT COULD SHATTER THE ENGINES'
HOUSING, CAUSING A HAZARD TO
WINDOW PASSENGERS,
DECOMPRESSION, AND POTENTIAL
LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.
AND WHILE CALHOUN CLAIMS HE'S
VERY CONFIDENT THEY'LL HAVE A
"FIX" -- WHICH IS GREAT NEWS --
IN THE MEANTIME, BOEING'S ASKING
PILOTS, ONCE MORE, TO BE THE
LAST LINE OF DEFENSE.
ONE WE SPOKE TO EVEN SENT US A
PHOTO OF THIS POST-IT NOTE HE
USES IN HIS COCKPIT TO REMIND
HIM TO TURN OFF THE ANTI-ICING
SYSTEM, ALONG WITH AN iPHONE
TIMER.
AND THAT'S TOO MUCH PRESSURE FOR
A FUCKING POST-IT NOTE.
THEY SHOULDN'T BE THE LAST LINE
OF DEFENSE AGAINST PLANE
CRASHES.
THEY SHOULD BE THE LAST LINE OF
DEFENSE AGAINST SHEILA FROM
MARKETING EATING YOUR CHOBANI
OUT OF THE WORK FRIDGE.
BOEING WHISTLE-BLOWERS -- WHO
WANTS THIS COMPANY TO GET
BETTER -- HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID
IT WON'T CHANGE UNTIL IT HAS NEW
LEADERSHIP.
AND BOEING MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
COAST ON ITS REPUTATION MUCH
LONGER -- AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE
FACT THAT, ON BOOKING SITES LIKE
KAYAK, YOU CAN USE THIS MENU TO
SELECT SPECIFIC BOEING MODELS
AND EXCLUDE THEM FROM YOUR
FLIGHT SEARCH.
THEY'VE ACTUALLY MOVED THAT
FILTER UP THE PAGE, FOLLOWING A
RECENT SPIKE IN USAGE.
AND YOU KNOW THINGS ARE BAD WHEN
THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS GETTING
THIS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT
SPECIFIC PLANE MODELS.
IT'S PRETTY CLEAR, SOMETHING HAS
TO CHANGE AT BOEING.
AND IT HAS TO BE AT THE TOP OF
THAT COMPANY.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE TRULY TOO BIG
TO FAIL, THAT SHOULD MEAN YOU'RE
BIG ENOUGH TO SPEND THE TIME AND
RESOURCES REQUIRED TO FIX THE
CULTURE YOU'VE DESTROYED.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, THE VERY
LEAST YOU CAN DO IS ADVERTISE
THE KIND OF COMPANY YOU ARE IN A
MORE ACCURATE WAY.
♪ ♪
>> AT BOEING, MAKE THE
IMPOSSIBLE HAPPEN ON A REGULAR
BASIS.
>> AT BOEING, WE TAKE PRIDE IN
OUR WORK.
>> AT BOEING, WE -- SORRY.
CAN YOU PUT THE CAMERA UP A
LITTLE BIT?
YOU ARE REALLY CLOSE.
AT BOEING -- I'M SORRY.
IT FEELS VERY TIGHT.
>> AT BOEING, WE BELIEVE THE
FIRST STEP IN MAKING A
DIFFERENCE IS BELIEVING YOU CAN.
>> AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ANY
DIFFERENCE: I'M TALKING ABOUT A
POSITIVE DIFFERENCE -- IN SHARE
PRICE!
THE SHARE PRICE NEEDS TO GO UP,
AND TO STAY UP, LIKE OUR PLANES
DO ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME.
>> SINCE ITS FOUNDING, BOEING
HAS BEEN BUILT ON QUALITY,
SAFETY, AND TRUST.
>> AND THEN, WE THOUGHT "LET'S
TRY SOMETHING NEW."
>> I JOINED BOEING BECAUSE I
WANTED TO INVENT THINGS NO ONE
EVER DREAMED OF, AND THEY TOLD
ME IF I WANTED TO DO THAT, WHAT
I NEEDED WAS TO INVENT A TIME
MACHINE TO 1992!
>> I DID TELL HIM THAT, AND I
THINK THE JOKE LANDED, LIKE
AIRPLANES DO, ALMOST ALL OF THE
TIME.
>> WHATEVER IT IS WE DO AT
BOEING, LET'S DO IT RIGHT.
>> OR, LET'S DO IT CLOSE ENOUGH
TO WRITE THAT NOBODY CAN TELL
THE DIFFERENCE FROM THE OUTSIDE,
AND HOPE EVERYBODY KEEPS THEIR
MOUTH SHUT.
>> -- AGREEING WITH BUSINESS
DECISIONS.
>> ENCOURAGE THEM TO SPEAK UP.
>> WHEN THEY DO, I USUALLY SAY
"WHAT, I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
OUR OFFICES ARE SO FAR FROM
SEATTLE."
>> AIRPLANE DESIGN IS ABOUT
PRECISION, CARE, ATTENTION TO
DETAIL, AND SOMEONE TELLING YOU
TO MAKE IT SO QUICKLY YOU MAKE
THE WHOLE THING VULNERABLE TO A
FUCKING BALLOON.
>> WE LIKE A CULTURE DRIVEN
PHILOSOPHY AT BOEING, AND WE GOT
THE CAMEL PORN TO PROVE IT.
IS THAT TOUGH?
WE ARE.
>> I TRY TO REPORT EVERYTHING I
SEE TUTTI FAA.
SEE THAT?
THERE IS ABOUT MISSING HERE, SO
I WON'T REPORT.
>> AT BOEING, WE -- HOLD ON, I'M
GETTING A TEXT.
>> IS AT THE FAA?
>> YEAH, I DO THE FAA'S JOB, BUT
I WORK FOR BOEING.
IT'S SUPER LOUD.
>> IT'S SUPER LOUD.
>> APPARENTLY, THERE IS A BOLT
MISSING.
>> IT'S FINE.
DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW MANY BOLTS
THERE ARE ON AN AIRPLANE?
TO MANY.
YOU LOSE ONE OR TWO, THAT'S A
ROUNDING ERROR.
>> THE BOYS ON THE FACTORY FLOOR
FLOOR, USING, BECAUSE WHEN ALL
ABOUT THE BOLTS.
AND I WORK FAST.
LIKE SCARY FAST.
PEOPLE SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT
HOW FAST I WORK.
IS IT OKAY IF I TAKE THESE HOME?
>> QUALITY IS AT THE FOREFRONT
OF EVERYTHING WE DO AT BOEING.
>> AND SOMETIMES, IT'S SO FAR AT
THE FOREFRONT IT ESCAPES.
QUALITY, GET BACK!
GET BACK HERE, YOU!
[LAUGHS]
>> I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO GET ON
ONE OF THESE PLANES.
>> OH, I DEFINITELY WOULDN'T GET
ON ONE.
>> I WOULD.
>> YEAH, BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT,
BECAUSE YOU HAVE --
>> THAT DEATH WITH EACH THING.
>> -- THAT DEATH WISH THING.
>> WE ARE BOEING, AND WE ARE
FOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANT THINGS:
RAISING STOCK PRICES, INCREASING
STOCK PRICES, MAKING STOCK
PRICES BIGGER, OR ELEVATING
STOCK PRICES.
DELIVERING VALUE TO SHAREHOLDERS
AT ANY AND ALL HUMAN CAUSED.
BOEING: WE -- BUSINESS SCHOOL,
GET ON OUR PLANE!
>> John: THANK YOU SO MUCH,
THAT IS OUR SHOW, SEE YOU NEXT
WEEK!
>> OUR PLANES ARE 100% SAFE.
JUST SO LONG AS NO ONE EVER LETS
GO OF A BALLOON -- SHIT, SHIT,
SHIT, SHIT, SHIT!
WHY WOULD YOU GIVE ME A BALLOON?
>> DON'T JUST TAKE IT FROM ME:
TAKE IT FROM OUR BRANDED MERGE.
HOW MANY BOLTS ARE ON AN
AIRPLANE?
TOO MANY!
IT'S SO CUTE.
WHERE ARE THEY?
WHO KNOWS?
ONE OR TWO?
LOOSEN UP, LIKE THE BOLT!
♪ ♪