NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has formally classified the 2024 crewed Starliner flight as a 'Type A' mishap, acknowledging serious failures in both Boeing's spacecraft and NASA's oversight. The classification comes with the release of a 311-page internal report detailing findings from the Program Investigation Team that examined the troubled mission.

The report reveals that while Starliner had design and engineering deficiencies, the most troubling failure was in decision-making and leadership. Isaacman wrote that these failures, if left unchecked, could create a culture incompatible with human spaceflight. The NASA chief promised 'leadership accountability' but did not specify which actions would be taken.

During the June 2024 flight, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams faced helium leaks and thruster failures that nearly prevented docking with the International Space Station. Wilmore later revealed he had to contemplate whether it was riskier to approach the station or attempt to fly back to Earth, as the spacecraft was losing control. The astronauts ultimately returned in March 2025 on a SpaceX Crew Dragon, after NASA reversed course on bringing them home on Starliner.