Boeing hit by whistleblower claims. Safety shortcuts in 777 & 787 production
5:40 AM EDT, April 11, 2024
The iconic Dreamliner producer, Boeing, is encountering yet another setback. An employee from this aviation giant has raised the alarm over a grave defect in the aeroplanes, highlighting yet another detriment to Boeing's safety reputation and a significant stain on its image.
Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour, the whistleblower, has revealed that crucial safety procedures were overlooked in the quest to expedite the manufacturing process of the 777 and 787 Dreamliner aeroplanes. He expressed concerns that these lapses could potentially lead to disastrous outcomes. "I witnessed people jumping onto parts of the machine to make them fit," Reuters quoted Salehpour.
According to Salehpour, the issue pertains to a minor fuselage component, potentially affecting up to a thousand aeroplanes, and is difficult to detect during the standard inspection upon delivery.
Internal intimidation at Boeing. Will others speak up?
Following his reports of these irregularities to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), responsible for ensuring safety within American airspace, Salehpour allegedly faced intimidation from his colleagues. Despite this, an investigation has been launched, with the FAA calling for more whistleblowers to come forward.
As reported by the portal 300gospodarka.pl, the U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating to determine if Boeing breached a 2021 agreement that shielded the aeroplane manufacturer from prosecution following two deadly crashes involving the B737 MAX in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in nearly 350 fatalities.
The growing catalog of accidents and significant flaws
Reports last month highlighted further "serious defects" within Boeing's fleet. United Airlines grounded almost 10 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aeroplanes after one lost a fuselage panel shortly after departure from Portland airport. Subsequent inspections revealed "loose bolts" on many panels of these aeroplanes.
Boeing's stock continues to plunge as the list of issues, incidents, defects, and investigations grows. As noted by CNN, Boeing's CEO, Dave Calhoun, has announced his intention to resign before the year's end, leaving his successors with considerable challenges to address and rectify.
