Boeing, once a sign of American engineering expertise, is facing an unprecedented storm as strikes and financial missteps expose deep fissures within the aerospace giant. On last Friday, the company announced a 10% workforce reduction — amounting to a staggering 17,000 jobs — following escalating tensions with union workers and an array of operational setbacks. These layoffs, coupled with delays in its flagship 777X model, underscore the depths of Boeing’s crisis, threatening the company’s long standing reputation and market standing.

The International Association of Machinists (IAM) strike, now entering its second month, has paralyzed Boeing’s production lines, most notably in Everett, Washington, where not a single plane has been worked on since mid-September. This shutdown has contributed to a projected $5 billion loss, according to a report by Anderson Economic Group. The figure is staggering — with $3.7 billion borne by Boeing’s shareholders and employees, and the rest trickling down to suppliers, local businesses, and airlines reliant on Boeing’s output.