Photos: Is there no end to US aircraft maker Boeing’s problems?

While it is unclear what caused the LATAM flight from Australia to New Zealand to drop so dramatically - the airline called it a technical event - this is the just not the attention Boeing needs.

Because Boeing’s misfortunes have been spiraling since January, which was when part of an Alaska Airlines’ operation 737 MAX blew off the side of the aircraft soon after takeoff. The incident resulted in the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) mandating the grounding of several 737 MAXs.

Boeing then failed 33 of 89 audits during an examination conducted by the FAA after the incident.

In February, United Airlines 737 MAX pilots reported that the flight controls jammed as the plane landed in Newark.

Two weeks later, the FAA flagged safety issues with the de-icing equipment on 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner models, which could cause the engines to lose thrust.

And earlier this month, a tyre fell off a Boeing jetliner shortly after takeoff at San Francisco International Airport, then smashed into cars and broke through a fence in a parking lot.

The streak of unfortunate happenings continues, with a former Boeing employee John Barnett – and a whistleblower known for raising concerns about the company’s production standards - was found dead in the US on Tuesday.

Now, Boeing’s crisis of confidence is spreading to airlines that buy its jets. Major carriers such as United Airlines Holdings Inc. to Southwest Airlines Co., Delta Air Lines Inc. Alaska Air Group Inc. and even UAE-based Emirates and Etihad are concerned Boeing’s troubles may bleed into their operations.

Most notably, airlines lack the aircraft they had planned to receive this year because Boeing has slowed output.

Emirates President Tim Clark has called for changes at Boeing and hinted at delivery delays for its first Boeing 777X jet. “The 777X [delivery] is probably at the back end of next year and maybe 2026, if we’re unlucky,” said Clark.

Etihad Airways’ CEO Antonoaldo Neves has said jet delivery delays by US plane maker Boeing are hampering the airline’s network growth plans.

Boeing is adding weekly compliance checks for every 737 work area and additional audits of equipment to reduce quality problems, the company's senior leadership said in a company memo to employees on Tuesday. Pictured above is Dave Calhoun, CEO, Boeing.

Aviation analysts say Boeing faces a substantial task in reconstructing its compromised safety culture and regaining complete confidence and reputation. The company has become too dependent on suppliers to build more and more of its planes, seeking to limit its role in joining the parts.

Critics also say the plane maker has compromised on safety standards for heftier profit margins.

According to the leasing firm Avolon, the aviation industry is already some 3,000 planes short. With the FAA curbing Boeing’s production capacities, the aviation industry’s stakeholders have now been forced to fly their older planes for longer, apart from facing engine shortages and other supply chain disruptions.

Airlines are now purchasing planes they previously leased instead of negotiating lease extensions. But can Boeing address its internal challenges in the coming months?

Failure to do so will strain supply chain chaos in the aviation industry, potentially leading to a significant downturn.