Boeing Starliner Failure declared a 'Type A' mishap after astronauts stranded for months
The boeing starliner failure that left NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore stranded in orbit for more than nine months has been formally classified as a "Type A" mishap,, and officials announced they will accept a 312-page final report and take corrective actions.
Boeing Starliner Failure flagged as 'Type A' mishap
NASA placed the botched 2024 crewed test flight in its most severe category, a "Type A" mishap, a designation reserved for incidents that cause more than $2 million in damage, the loss of a vehicle or deaths. The agency's 312-page investigation identified hardware failures, leadership missteps and cultural problems that fell short of safety standards and helped turn what was planned as an eight-to-14-day mission into a months-long ordeal for the two test pilots.
New NASA chief Jared Isaacman, who took the role in late 2025 after a second nomination, criticized both Boeing and the agency for poor decision-making and leadership. "We are correcting those mistakes. Today, we are formally declaring a Type A mishap and ensuring leadership accountability so situations like this never reoccur, " he said tied to the report.
Thruster loss, risky manual docking and extended stay on the ISS
The investigation found the Boeing-built capsule suffered thruster failures on its first crewed test flight in June 2024 that left the vehicle dangerously out of control before the crew regained propulsion. Pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams managed to restart the propulsion system and manually dock with the International Space Station, extending what had been scheduled as a 10-day visit into a more-than-nine-month stay.
Investigators also cited persistent technical problems beyond the thrusters, including the use of flammable tape on electrical systems and a parachute system failure. The report notes that although the mission regained control prior to docking and there were no injuries, there were still issues with thrusters during re-entry and the mission presented the potential for a significant mishap.
Findings: hardware, oversight and next steps
The independent investigation called out poor engineering and a lack of oversight at the contractor that built Starliner, saying those failings compounded leadership and cultural breakdowns that contributed to the crisis. The report makes clear NASA will accept the final findings and move to correct the identified problems.
Boeing has acknowledged the problems and says it has driven "significant cultural changes" and made "substantial progress" on corrective actions. The two astronauts eventually returned to Earth on a separate SpaceX flight in March 2025; both have since retired from the agency.
The next confirmed step is NASA's formal acceptance of the independent report and the agency's stated program of corrective actions to address the issues laid out in the 312-page review.
