Boeing chief to step down in wake of cabin panel blowout

The boss of Boeing has announced he is stepping down amid a sweeping overhaul of the planemaker's management as it fights to repair its reputation after a terrifying cabin panel blowout.

- Callum Jones

Dave Calhoun will resign as chief executive at the end of this year, while Larry Kellner, chair of Boeing's board of directors, will also leave his role.

Calhoun plans to "complete the critical work under way to stabilise and position the company for the future" over the coming months, the planemaker said.

Boeing has scrambled to reassure regulators, airlines and passengers since a brand-new 737 Max 9 jet was forced to emergency land in January.

The dramatic incident during an Alaska Airlines flight which prompted 171 Max 9 jets to be grounded for several weeks - has sparked the biggest safety crisis for Boeing since the crashes of two of its 737 Max 8 jets, in 2018 and 2019, in which 346 people were killed.

Stan Deal, who led Boeing's commercial aeroplane business, has also left his job with immediate effect. He has been replaced by Stephanie Pope, the group's chief operating officer.