The Boeing 777X was unveiled on March 13 in a private, employees-only event.

The 777X is destined to serve as Boeing's new flagship and replace the iconic 747 jumbo jet.

The 777X comes in two variants: the $410.2 million 777-8, and the $442.2 million 777-9.

The jet is expected to enter service in 2020 with its launch customer, Emirates.

March 13 was supposed to be a media bonanza for Boeing. The aviation giant was set to unveil its next great wide-body jetliner — one that's destined to serve as its flagship for decades to come and finally replace the legendary 747 jumbo jet.

That day, the attention of the world's news outlets was indeed trained upon Boeing. But not for that reason.

Three days earlier, Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 crashed shortly after taking off from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, killing all 157 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 737 Max 8. It was the second nearly brand-new 737 Max 8 to crash under strikingly similar circumstances.

By the morning of March 13, more than 50 regulatory agencies and airlines around the world had grounded or even outright banned the plane. That afternoon, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency order that grounded the 737 Max in the US as well.

Read more: 2 Boeing 737 Max airliners have crashed since October — here are the airlines that fly the plane

What was supposed to be a day of celebration for Boeing instead became one of the darkest days in the company's history.

The media junket was scrapped, and the first 777X prototype was introduced in a private ceremony reserved for employees.

That said, the unfortunate circumstances surrounding its unveiling does not diminish the importance of the new 777X to Boeing. Here's a closer look.