Is there any reason not to fly on the Boeing 737 given its safety concerns?
I recently flew back from a short holiday, cruising on the Yangtze River in Chongqing, China, on a Boeing 737-800 despite some safety concerns surrounding Boeing planes.
The most recent incident of a similar plane occurred on November 8, 2024, when a Qantas Airways flight to Brisbane suffered an engine failure after take-off. The plane circled and then returned safely to land at Sydney Airport.
Despite incidents like this, Boeing planes continue to be deemed safe to fly after undergoing rigorous testing and certification by regulators and the manufacturer. It’s important to understand that not all Boeing planes are the same. The primary safety concerns have mainly involved the 737 MAX model, which was grounded following two tragic crashes in 2018 and 2019.
The grounding of the 737 MAX lasted for 20 months, during which Boeing made significant changes to its flight control system, software, wiring, and sensors. The aircraft was eventually cleared to fly again by the U.S. and other aviation authorities in late 2020 and early 2021, meeting stringent safety requirements.
All aircraft, whether Boeing or Airbus, are complex machines with thousands of systems. It’s not uncommon for issues to arise, but these are thoroughly investigated and resolved by the authorities. Just as we expect occasional issues with cars, we should anticipate that planes may encounter technical problems as well.
However, that doesn’t mean they are unsafe. If there were genuine risks, thousands of pilots wouldn’t show up to fly these planes.
Whether flying on an older 737 model or the newer 737 MAX, passengers can rest assured that the aircraft meets the highest safety standards. Flying remains one of the safest ways to travel, even when compared to everyday activities.
For perspective, more people die annually in the U.S. from falling out of bed – the equivalent of a fully loaded Boeing 737 crashing every four months.
More airline pilots lose their lives driving to work than in flight accidents.
Auto fatalities in the U.S. are equivalent to four fully loaded Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s crashing every week or having two Boeing 777 crashes every 7 days!
Media often sensationalizes aviation incidents, creating a perception that air travel is riskier than it is. But the reality is that both Boeing and Airbus planes are subject to stringent safety protocols, making air travel one of the safest modes of transportation.
At the end of the day, I see no reason not to fly on a Boeing aircraft despite past safety concerns. In fact, most passengers don’t even know or care whether they’re flying on a Boeing or an Airbus plane – they just want to reach their destination safely and on time.
To all my readers, wishing you all a safe flight always!
View a YouTube video “Engine failure forces Qantas flight to make emergency landing at Sydney Airport”