Boeing Sales and Profits Plummet as 737 Max Crisis Continues

Boeing reported sharp quarterly drops in sales, earnings and airplane deliveries on Wednesday as it continued to struggle with the fallout from the deadly crashes of two 737 Max jets.

With the Max still grounded, Boeing has ceased deliveries of its most popular product, throwing the company into turmoil.

The company said sales fell 21 percent from the same period last year to $20 billion. Earnings fell 43 percent to $1.26 billion.

The commercial airlines division lost $40 million over July through September after earning more than $2 billion during the same period a year ago. And commercial airline deliveries plummeted 67 percent in the quarter, with Boeing delivering just 62 planes.

The company did not provide an update on the total amount it expects the Max crisis to cost the company. It said that it still expects the Federal Aviation Administration to clear the Max to fly in the next three months.

“Our top priority remains the safe return to service of the 737 Max, and we’re making steady progress,” Boeing’s chief executive, Dennis A. Muilenburg, said in a statement. “We’ve also taken action to further sharpen our company’s focus on product and services safety, and we continue to deliver on customer commitments and capture new opportunities with our values of safety, quality and integrity always at the forefront.”

Boeing is mired in the biggest crisis of its 103-year history. The Max remains grounded after seven months, and Boeing has said further delays could cause it to temporarily shut down production of the plane, a move that would have sweeping financial consequences.

The company has recently shaken up its top leadership, ousting the head of commercial airplanes, Kevin McAllister, and stripping Mr. Muilenburg of his title as chairman. And new revelations have made it clear that some Boeing employees voiced concern about an automated system that played a role in both crashes before the plane was certified.

Mr. Muilenburg is set to testify before Congress next week in what is expected to be a tense showdown between the company and lawmakers, who have grown increasingly irate with Boeing over its handling of the Max crisis.