U.S. prosecutors alleged two senior Boeing pilots deceived the Federal Aviation Administration into certifying the aircraft as airworthy.
The charge will result in Boeing's largest-ever quarterly loss and "underlines the magnitude of the crisis" it is facing.
Activity could begin to slow as the labor market tightens and the China-U.S. trade war starts to affect supply chains.
The aeronautics division, Lockheed's largest, delivered an 11.8% sales gain in Q4 as production volume for the F-35 supersonic warplanes increased.
Labor and fuel expenses weighed on the Q4 bottom line but American posted a 5.5% gain in revenue per available seat mile.
The Commerce Department's decision in an antidumping case brought by Boeing "underscored the defensive trade policy" of President Donald Trump.
The better-than-expected increase, combined with another gain in core capital goods orders, indicate manufacturing's recovery is picking up steam.
Like other aerospace suppliers, United Technologies is seeking to cut costs and enhance negotiating power in the face of pricing pressure from customers.
The company ended a tough 2016 on a high note as its focus on lowering costs delivered profits that topped analysts' estimates.
"It’s really the transition to the digital airplane that's creating the perfect timing to bring these two entities together," Rockwell says.
But orders for non-defense capital goods (excluding aircraft) fell 0.8%, said the Commerce Department.
