History of Boeing
Boeing was founded in 1916 by William Boeing as the Pacific Aero Products Company in Seattle, Washington. The company's early work focused on seaplanes and military aircraft contracts. In the 1920s and 1930s, Boeing produced the Model 40 mail plane and the 247 passenger aircraft, establishing it as a commercial aviation manufacturer. Boeing's production scaled significantly during World War II, when it produced the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber in large numbers under military contracts.
The introduction of the 707 jetliner in the late 1950s marked Boeing's entry into the commercial jet era, beginning a decades-long position in civil aviation. Subsequent models — the 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, and 787 — addressed different market segments and range requirements. The 747, first flown in 1969, enabled mass long-haul air travel. Boeing also produced military aircraft including the F/A-18 Hornet and the AH-64 Apache helicopter under defence contracts.
Boeing has been a significant supplier of military aircraft to Israel for decades. The Israeli Air Force operates F-15 aircraft produced by Boeing, and the company has fulfilled multiple government-to-government arms contracts with Israel. These sales have led BDS campaigners and human rights organisations to include Boeing on boycott lists, citing the use of such aircraft in operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
Boeing faced a severe regulatory and reputational crisis following two fatal crashes of its 737 MAX aircraft in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people. Investigations by the US Congress and aviation regulators found systemic failures in Boeing's safety culture and certification processes. The aircraft was grounded globally for nearly two years. The episodes resulted in criminal and civil settlements, leadership changes, and continued scrutiny of the company's production quality and oversight practices.