Boeing Removes Head of Space Division Amidst Starliner Issues

arlington - Boeing has dismissed its head of defense and space division following problems with the Starliner spacecraft and significant cost overruns on other projects.

Boeing has sacked the head of its defense and space division due to issues with the Starliner spacecraft and budget breaches on other projects. Steve Parker, who previously managed operational matters at the division, will assume temporary leadership. This marks the first major change at the top since Ortberg took over Boeing in early August.

Technical glitches with Boeing's Starliner have left two astronauts stranded at the International Space Station for months. The spacecraft, launched to the ISS in June after numerous delays, revealed a helium leak during the journey. Propulsion malfunctions and strange noises inside the capsule were also reported.

Originally planned for a week-long stay, the NASA astronauts are now stuck on the ISS until February due to safety concerns. They will be retrieved by an alternate capsule.

Boeing's defense and space division is plagued by cost overruns in the conversion of two 747 planes into new aircraft for U.S. presidents. The department suffered approximately $1 billion in losses last quarter, with a bleak outlook for the current one.

Ortberg emphasized Boeing's commitment to restoring customer trust and meeting their high standards. The company faces a broader crisis following an incident in January involving an aircraft door panel detachment during flight, exposing quality issues in production.

In addition, Boeing grapples with a worker strike at its main Seattle factories, with over 30,000 employees demanding higher wages than proposed. The ongoing strike jeopardizes Boeing's recovery and creditworthiness.

The strike, ongoing for over a week, shows no signs of resolution. Experts caution that a prolonged strike could hinder Boeing's recovery and impact the company's credit rating.