Boeing shares slid 5% in early Thursday trading after an Air India flight en route to London crashed in western India, with all 242 people on board feared dead.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, went down under still-unclear circumstances, marking a fresh crisis for both the airline and the U.S.-based aerospace giant.
Boeing released a brief statement expressing condolences and confirming it is in close contact with Air India. The company added that it is “ready to provide all necessary support” as investigations get underway.
The crash is a devastating blow for Boeing, which has been working to rebuild its reputation after a turbulent stretch that included a prolonged labor strike last year in the U.S. and two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019.
Thursday’s incident immediately reignited questions about Boeing’s manufacturing oversight and quality control, just as the company had begun regaining commercial momentum.
Regulators and aviation safety agencies in India, the U.S., and internationally are expected to open formal investigations into the cause of the crash in the coming days.
