Boeing, the 737 MAX Crisis and Aviation Safety
The Perils of Profit‑Driven Engineering by Professor Andrew Hopkins
A powerful examination of how Boeing’s pursuit of profit—and its flawed engineering decisions—led to two tragic losses and a global grounding of its flagship aircraft. Available as eBook corporate license.
Overview
In this incisive analysis, Professor Andrew Hopkins reveals how systemic failures in organisational culture, design oversight, and governance paved the way for the Boeing 737 MAX disasters. Drawing on his expertise in major industrial catastrophes—including Deepwater Horizon—Hopkins shows how prioritising financial targets over safety engineering created irreversible chain reactions.
Key Themes
- Profit‑driven engineering decisions compromised safety in the design of MCAS—the software system central to both crashes :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- A culture of short‑cuts over safety, linked to Boeing’s organisational evolution and post‑McDonnell Douglas era :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Regulatory failures: the FAA’s delegation to Boeing and lack of transparency over MCAS functionality :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- Manufacturing lapses and quality control breakdowns—including panel blowouts and improperly installed components :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
- The legal and financial aftermath: billions in fines, reputational damage and shifted market share to Airbus :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Why Read This Book?
This book is essential for anyone interested in aviation safety, corporate governance, risk management, or engineering ethics. It offers rare insights into how defective systems emerge—not because of negligence, but as unintended consequences of organisational priorities.
About the Author & Book Details
Author: Professor Andrew Hopkins — expert in process safety and industrial risk analysis.
Publisher: Routledge, 2025 | ISBN: 978‑1041041313
Includes discussion questions for use with the book.