During the approval process for 737Max planes in India in 2017, Boeing executives used terms such as "fools" and "stupid" for the Indian aviation regulator DGCA, according to internal documents released by the company.
In early 2019, regulators across the world banned flying 737Max planes after two fatal accidents involving the aircraft that killed 346 people. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also ordered grounding of these planes in March last year.
The latest batch of internal Boeing documents were provided to the US aviation regulator FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and US Congress last month and released on Thursday.
In one of the conversations, a Boeing executive is recorded as stating, "The DCGA in India is apparently even stupider, if that's a word. I am drinking obviously."
In another conversation, a Boeing executive says the following about DGCA: "I just Jedi mind tricked this (these) fools."
When contacted regarding this matter on Friday, a senior DGCA official responded, "On the specific issue of simulator training, we have made our stand clear and shall have it and that too in India under our eyes."
On the other conversations among Boeing executives, the official told PTI, "We respect his views and shall improve to come up to expectations."
The executive then adds, "The DCGA in India is apparently even stupider, if that's a word. I am drinking obviously."
The second executive responded,"Sounds about right!"
The first executive is recorded to have said, "I just Jedi mind tricked this (these) fools. I should be given $1000 every time I take one of these calls. I save this company a sick amount of $$$$."
The first executive responded, "To simply produce an email from me to the DGCA that states all the airlines and regulators... accept only the Max CBT (computer based training)."
The first executive further said, "To make them feel stupid about trying to require any additional training requirements."
When asked about the aforementioned conversations of December 2017 among its executives, Boeing India said, "These communications do not reflect the company we are and need to be, and they are completely unacceptable."