WASHINGTON, D.C. — At the start of his second day in the congressional hot seat, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg immediately turned to families of those killed in crashes of the 737 Max.
"We are deeply, deeply sorry and we'll never forget," he told them.
Muilenburg said he has not offered to resign.
"My responsibility is to stick through it and get Boeing ready for the future," he said.
As House members fired questions about the company's failures, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) brought up Muilenburg's eight-figure bonus.
Scroll down to continue reading
More news from KIRO 7
- Brother of Kenmore woman whose body was found in suitcase charged with her murder
- Firefighters put out RV fire and find person, dog dead inside
- Store manager confronts suspect in sting to recover Magic cards worth $16,000
- Man who escaped Western State Hospital found guilty of murder
- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com
He made a total of $23 million last year.
"You received after that crash a $15 million bonus. What are the consequences? Who is taking principal responsibility?" DeFazio asked.
"I am responsible. I'm also accountable," Muilenburg said.
"What does accountability mean?" asked Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.). "Are you taking a cut in pay? Are you working for free from now on until you can cure this problem?"
"I had no idea that he got a $15 million bonus after he killed my daughter. I'm just horrified," said Nadia Milleron, whose daughter, Samya Stumo, was killed in the Ethiopian Airlines crash.
"We're here to try to prevent a third crash. We don't want any other families to be feeling what we're feeling. It's horrendous. After a plane crashes, you can't get your loved ones' body back, it's all in pieces," Milleron said.
Stumo was also the grandniece of consumer advocate Ralph Nader.
"There should be a consumer boycott of this plane, it's inherently unstable, which is escaping the attention of the House and Senate committees," Nader said.
Nader said the stability problem caused by larger engines can't be fixed with software.
As families of crash victims search for answers, in the Puget Sound region Boeing workers also wonder about the future of the plane.
"I know these folks back home are distraught the product they're so proud of contributed to the deaths of 346 people," said Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash).
Larsen said safety must be the guiding force for returning the Max to service.
Muilenburg previously warned of a production shutdown if there's another delay.
Asked Wednesday if workers in Renton should be prepared for layoffs, Muilenburg told KIRO 7, "Our focus here is on safety."
Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/03-07-2024/t_a04eea43993e4d4a91177d329640b460_name_Tran_6p_Everett_Woman_homicide_LL_pkg_frame_22938.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/PWNVBGLM65HJPKEVF2YKQHJQEE.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/SJPHEIUFCFBN5CV66FIPLEJCZY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/S46CRPVDARHLBMS3M6JSNZJEMQ.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/DV3D5PBQIZFEPANBGDDAZHIA5I.jpg)