15 Jul 1916
Turning point
Pacific Aero Products incorporated
William Boeing's company was incorporated as Pacific Aero Products Co., according to Boeing's chronology.
Company
How Boeing unfolded
Boeing began in Seattle in 1916 as Pacific Aero Products and grew into a major maker of commercial jets and a defence and space contractor. Two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 led to a worldwide grounding, a federal fraud conspiracy charge and an SEC settlement. A 2024 door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737-9 brought renewed scrutiny, a change of chief executive and the reacquisition of supplier Spirit AeroSystems.
15 July 1916 to today · 25 dated events · 16 sources
Where it stands now · as of 31 October 2026
Boeing is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under BA and led by Kelly Ortberg. The 737 MAX criminal case was dismissed in November 2025 and the Fifth Circuit denied the families' petitions in March 2026. Boeing reported a record backlog of $745 billion at 30 September 2026.
people killed in the two 737 MAX crashes346Lion Air 610 and Ethiopian Airlines 302
total backlog, 30 September 2026$745bna company record
revenue, third quarter 2026$24.2bnnet loss of $116 million
commercial airplanes delivered in Q3 2026161
Overview · 15 Jul 1916 to 27 Oct 2026 · click a dot to jump
1916
1917
26 Apr 1917
Renamed Boeing Airplane Company
The company changed its name to Boeing Airplane Co.
· · · 622 months later
1969
9 Feb 1969
747 first flight
The Boeing 747 made its first flight.
· · · 341 months later
1997
1 Jul 1997
FTC closes review of McDonnell Douglas merger
The US Federal Trade Commission said it had closed its investigation of Boeing's proposed merger with McDonnell Douglas, stating that no further action was warranted at that time.
· · · 256 months later
2018
29 Oct 2018
Lion Air Flight 610 crash
A Lion Air 737 MAX crashed in Indonesia shortly after take-off, killing all 189 passengers and crew, according to the Justice Department.
2019
10 Mar 2019
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash
An Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crashed after take-off from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 passengers and crew.
13 Mar 2019
Turning point
737 MAX grounded in the United States
The 737 MAX was officially grounded in the United States, according to the Justice Department's account.
2020
Jan 2020
David Calhoun becomes CEO
Board member David Calhoun became president and chief executive, according to Boeing, which later said he had served in the role since January 2020.
2021
7 Jan 2021
Turning point
Deferred prosecution agreement on fraud conspiracy charge
The Justice Department charged Boeing with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with the FAA evaluation of the 737 MAX, and Boeing entered a deferred prosecution agreement. It agreed to pay more than $2.5 billion, including a $243.6 million criminal penalty, $1.77 billion to airline customers and a $500 million fund for crash victims' beneficiaries.
· · · 20 months later
2022
22 Sep 2022
SEC settlement over 737 MAX statements
The SEC charged Boeing and former CEO Dennis Muilenburg with making materially misleading public statements after the crashes, and its orders found they negligently violated antifraud provisions. Without admitting or denying the findings, Boeing agreed to pay $200 million and Muilenburg $1 million.
· · · 15 months later
2024
5 Jan 2024
Turning point
Alaska Airlines 1282 door plug separates
The left mid exit door plug of an Alaska Airlines 737-9 separated in flight while the aircraft climbed after take-off from Portland, Oregon. The crew returned and landed, and one flight attendant and seven passengers had minor injuries, according to the NTSB.
Jul 2024
Plea agreement submitted to the court
After prosecutors told the court in May 2024 that Boeing had breached the 2021 agreement, the parties submitted a plea agreement under which Boeing would plead guilty and serve a term of probation, according to the court.
1 Jul 2024
Agreement to acquire Spirit AeroSystems
Boeing agreed to buy fuselage supplier Spirit AeroSystems for $37.25 a share in stock, an equity value of about $4.7 billion and a total of about $8.3 billion including net debt.
8 Aug 2024
Kelly Ortberg becomes CEO
Former Rockwell Collins chief executive Kelly Ortberg took over as president and CEO, succeeding Calhoun, who had announced plans to retire.
5 Dec 2024
Judge rejects plea agreement
US District Judge Reed O'Connor rejected the plea agreement as not in the public interest, in part because Boeing would have had veto power over the government's choice of an independent monitor, according to his later order.
2025
29 May 2025
Non-prosecution agreement and motion to dismiss
The Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss the charge together with a non-prosecution agreement signed with Boeing. Al Jazeera reported that the agreement included $444.5 million for crash victims, a $243.6 million fine and more than $455 million for compliance, safety and quality programmes.
24 Jun 2025
NTSB determines probable cause of door plug accident
The NTSB held its board meeting on the Alaska Airlines accident and cited Boeing's failure to provide adequate training, guidance and oversight for its parts removal process. It cited ineffective FAA oversight as contributing.
“Boeing's failure to provide adequate training, guidance, and oversight”National Transportation Safety Board, National Transportation Safety Board
6 Nov 2025
Turning point
Criminal case dismissed
Judge O'Connor granted the government's motion to dismiss, finding it had not acted in bad faith, while agreeing with the families that the agreement lacked accountability.
“fails to secure the necessary accountability to ensure the safety of the flying public”Judge Reed O'Connor, US District Court for the Northern District of Texas
13 Nov 2025
Families petition the Fifth Circuit
Families of crash victims filed two petitions for writs of mandamus under the Crime Victims' Rights Act, one against the 2021 agreement and one asking the appeals court to set aside the non-prosecution agreement and the dismissal.
8 Dec 2025
Spirit AeroSystems acquisition completed
Boeing said it had completed its acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems.
2026
31 Mar 2026
Fifth Circuit denies the families' petitions
A three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit held that the Justice Department had not violated the families' rights under the Crime Victims' Rights Act and denied both mandamus petitions.
May 2026
Fifth Circuit declines rehearing
The Fifth Circuit declined to rehear the families' challenge before the full court, Law360 reported on 26 May 2026.
29 Sep 2026
Navy selects Boeing for F/A-XX fighter
Boeing said the US Navy had awarded it a multi-billion-dollar contract to design, build and deliver the F/A-XX, a sixth-generation fighter to replace the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
20 Oct 2026
FAA certifies the 737-10
Boeing said the FAA had approved the amended type certificate for the 737-10, the largest 737 MAX model. Its quarterly results said the 737-7 had also been certified in the third quarter.
27 Oct 2026
Third quarter 2026 results
Boeing reported revenue of $24.2 billion, a net loss of $116 million, 161 commercial deliveries and a record backlog of $745 billion. It said operating cash flow included about $0.7 billion of Justice Department settlement payments.
“But we are not done.”Kelly Ortberg, The Boeing Company, exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K filed with the SEC
Related timelines
Incident🇮🇩 🇪🇹 🇺🇸 🇫🇷
737 MAX crashes
Lion Air flight 610 crashed off Indonesia in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 crashed near Addis Ababa in March 2019, killing all 346 people aboard the two ...
2018 to now · 24 eventsOngoing
Incident🇺🇸
Alaska 1282 door plug
On January 5, 2024, the left mid exit door plug separated from an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 climbing out of Portland, Oregon, and the airplane returned and landed safe...
2024 to now · 27 eventsOngoing
Court case🇺🇸
Boeing 737 MAX fraud charge
The US Department of Justice charged Boeing with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, alleging that two Boeing 737 MAX technical pilots concealed informa...
2018 to now · 12 eventsOngoing
Incident🇮🇳 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🇵🇹
Air India 171 crash
On June 12, 2025, Air India flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 bound for London Gatwick, crashed into buildings in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 people ...
2025 to now · 23 eventsOngoing
Sources
16 records, ranked by type- 1Subject's own statement31 Oct 2026Boeing ChronologyThe Boeing Company · boeing.com
- 2Official record1 Jul 1997FTC Allows Merger of the Boeing Company and McDonnell Douglas CorporationUS Federal Trade Commission · ftc.gov
- 3Official record7 Jan 2021Boeing Charged with 737 Max Fraud Conspiracy and Agrees to Pay over $2.5 BillionUS Department of Justice · justice.gov
- 4Official record22 Sep 2022Boeing to Pay $200 Million to Settle SEC Charges that it Misled Investors about the 737 MAXUS Securities and Exchange Commission · sec.gov
- 5Official record24 Jun 2025Investigation DCA24MA063: Alaska Airlines flight 1282National Transportation Safety Board · ntsb.gov
- 6Subject's own statement1 Jul 2024Boeing to Acquire Spirit AeroSystemsThe Boeing Company · boeing.mediaroom.com
- 7News report6 Nov 2025US judge approves DOJ decision to drop Boeing criminal caseAl Jazeera · aljazeera.com
- 8Subject's own statement8 Dec 2025Boeing Completes Acquisition of Spirit AeroSystemsThe Boeing Company · boeing.mediaroom.com
- 9Subject's own statement31 Jul 2024Boeing Board Names Kelly Ortberg President and CEOThe Boeing Company · boeing.mediaroom.com
- 10Subject's own statement27 Oct 2026Boeing Reports Third Quarter ResultsThe Boeing Company, exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K filed with the SEC · sec.gov
- 11Official record6 Nov 2025United States v. The Boeing Company, memorandum opinion and order granting motion to dismiss, case 4:21-cr-005-OUS District Court for the Northern District of Texas · reason.com
- 12Official record31 Mar 2026In re Ryan et al., opinion, Nos. 25-11253 and 25-11254US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · ca5.uscourts.gov
- 13Official record13 Nov 2025Petition for a writ of mandamus under the Crime Victims' Rights Act, No. 25-11254US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (court-stamped filing) · cliffordlaw.com
- 14News report26 May 20265th Circ. Won't Rehear DOJ's Dropped Boeing Criminal CaseLaw360 · law360.co.uk
- 15Subject's own statement29 Sep 2026U.S. Navy Selects Boeing for F/A-XX ProgramThe Boeing Company · boeing.mediaroom.com
- 16Subject's own statement20 Oct 2026U.S. FAA certifies Boeing 737-10, largest member of 737 MAX familyThe Boeing Company · boeing.mediaroom.com
Last updated 31 October 2026. Spotted an error? See corrections. Every event links to the record it comes from. Allegations are attributed to whoever made them.