Overview

• Recent flight safety incidents have led to a wave of criticism against Boeing, with some conservatives attributing the mishaps to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in hiring.
• Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr. have publicly blamed DEI initiatives for the incidents, despite no evidence linking DEI practices to the accidents.
• Boeing employees and aviation experts have instead pointed to a culture prioritizing profit and speed over quality and safety as the cause of the incidents.
• DEI initiatives aim to increase representation among underrepresented groups, but have become a target in the culture war ahead of the 2024 general election.
• Despite the criticism, diversity data from Boeing shows that the company is still short of its goals to hire more women and people of color.