Rishi Desai
Class of 2026San Diego, California
About
Hello! I’m Rishi Desai, and my research focuses on the Boeing 737 MAX crisis, examining public trust, aviation safety, and corporate accountability. I am deeply interested in exploring the intersections of law, corporate responsibility, and the aviation industry through research. For foreseeable future, I am hoping to study history and political science in university and eventually go to law school to attain my overall goal for my career of being a lawyer in New York.Projects
- "How has the Boeing 737 MAX crisis, and Boeing’s actions more broadly, impacted public trust in aviation safety, and what role does corporate accountability play in restoring confidence?" with mentor Jeff (Oct. 23, 2025)
Project Portfolio
How has the Boeing 737 MAX crisis, and Boeing’s actions more broadly, impacted public trust in aviation safety, and what role does corporate accountability play in restoring confidence?
Started Dec. 3, 2024
Abstract or project description
Imagine boarding a plane, unaware that a hidden software system—one you’ve never heard of—could override the pilot and send the aircraft into a nosedive. When Boeing introduced MCAS, it was meant to solve a problem. Instead, it created a deadly one. The truth is that this kind of event happened in the series of accidents involving Boeing 737 MAX airplane, which was found to have MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System) linked as the main cause of two fatal crashes that killed 346 people. The impact spread widespread concern among the aviation world, raising questions not only about engineering decisions of the aircraft but also about regulatory and corporate responsibilities of Boeing itself. Investigations have since revealed that the crashes were not only failures of technology but failures in accountability and trust. However, there hasn’t been much particular research that has focused on how these failures affected public trust and perceptions of aviation safety, particularly through social media. The Boeing 737 MAX crisis demonstrates how failures in corporate responsibility and inaccuracies can weaken public trust in aviation safety. This trust can only be rebuilt through better methods of transparency, enhanced regulation and enforcement, and a deepened commitment to accountability to ensure this trust is maintained by the aviation industry.