Which Boeing chief executive resigned in 2019 amid the 737 MAX crisis?

Dennis Muilenburg resigned as Boeing chief executive in 2019 amid the 737 MAX crisis.

Muilenburg became Boeing’s chief executive in 2015, during the development and entry into service of the 737 MAX. Two crashes—Lion Air Flight 610 in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in March 2019—killed all 346 people aboard. Investigations focused heavily on the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS, along with training, certification and safety-management failures.

The worldwide 737 MAX fleet was grounded in March 2019. Boeing faced intense scrutiny from regulators, lawmakers, airlines, pilots and victims’ families. Muilenburg testified before Congress in October 2019 and left the chief executive position in December.

David Calhoun replaced him as Boeing’s chief executive in January 2020. Muilenburg’s resignation did not end the crisis: the aircraft remained grounded until regulators approved its return to service after software, training and procedural changes.