In a fresh blow to Boeing Co (NYSE: BA), a Transair-operated Boeing 737-300 aircraft skidded off the runway during takeoff at Senegal's Blaise Diagne International Airport, injuring ten people, four of whom are in critical condition. This incident adds to the growing list of challenges faced by the aviation giant, which is already under regulatory scrutiny for a series of safety concerns.
The ill-fated Air Senegal flight HC301 was carrying 85 people, including two pilots and four cabin crew members, when it "overran the runway" around 1:14 a.m. on Thursday, according to Senegal’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Land and Air Transport. The aircraft was destined for Bamako, Mali, from Dakar, the Senegalese capital.
Videos circulating on the internet show the Transair plane, identified by the serial number 6V-AJE, lying on a grassy bank. The left engine appears damaged, and the brush near the runway is covered with Aqueous Film Forming Foam, commonly used to extinguish aircraft fires.
This incident is the latest in a series of setbacks for Boeing, which has faced 32 whistleblower complaints within the past three years. The company is under investigation by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for alleged employer retaliation, encompassing aviation and workplace safety concerns.
Earlier this year, Alaska Air Group temporarily grounded 65 Boeing 737 Max 9 jets after an emergency landing at Portland International Airport due to midair pressure issues damaging the fuselage. In another incident in April, a Delta flight faced an unsettling situation when the pilot informed passengers that the Boeing 757 was "yawing aggressively," prompting a return to the airport.
The Blaise Diagne airport has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the latest accident. Meanwhile, Boeing's shares are trading lower, reflecting the ongoing concerns about the company's safety record.
More for you:
