Boeing CEO vows ‘relentless commitment to make safe airplanes even safer’

Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg on Monday night offered a lengthy statement addressing investigations into two recent crashes involving the company’s aircraft and pledged a “relentless commitment” to safety to passengers and employees.

“We know lives depend on the work we do, and our teams embrace that responsibility with a deep sense of commitment every day,” Muilenburg said in a statement.

Boeing has faced intense scrutiny following an Ethiopian Airlines crash earlier this month that killed 157 people just months after a Lion Air crash in Indonesia left 189 people dead. Muilenburg said Monday that the company is committed to the investigations of the crashes, both of which involved Boeing 737 Max 8 planes.

{mosads}”Safety is at the core of who we are at Boeing, and ensuring safe and reliable travel on our airplanes is an enduring value and our absolute commitment to everyone,” he said.

“Boeing has been in the business of aviation safety for more than 100 years, and we’ll continue providing the best products, training and support to our global airline customers and pilots,” he added. “This is an ongoing and relentless commitment to make safe airplanes even safer.”

Muilenburg’s statement came after officials said black-box data from the Ethiopian Airlines crash shows a “clear similarity” with last year’s accident in Indonesia.

The Wall Street Journal reported early Monday that a grand jury issued a subpoena for documents last week to at least one person involved in the development of the 737 Max.

The U.S. last week joined numerous other countries in grounding Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 aircraft amid the ongoing investigations into the causes of the recent crashes.