Boeing whistleblower alleges flaws in 787 Dreamliner planes | Business News
Crisis-hit Boeing is under fire from new whistleblower allegations of poor practices as it continues to deal with its latest safety crisis.
A Congressional investigation on Wednesday heard testimony about the safety culture and manufacturing standards at Boeing, which was previously rocked in January by a mid-air scare involving an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 flight and a panel blowout.
One Boeing quality engineer, Sam Salehpour, testified that the company was taking shortcuts to increase production levels, potentially compromising the safety of jetliners.
He specifically mentioned issues with the 787 Dreamliner, a popular aircraft used by airlines globally, including British Airways, stating that excessive force was used to connect fuselage sections, potentially compromising the plane’s structural integrity.
Despite his concerns, Salehpour claimed he was threatened when he raised the issue.
Boeing quality engineer Sam Salehpour testifies during the Senate homeland security subcommittee hearing. Pic: AP
After analyzing Boeing’s data, Salehpour concluded that the company was cutting corners in the production of the 787 Dreamliner, potentially compromising safety and longevity.
Boeing refuted his claims regarding the Dreamliner’s structural integrity and the alleged use of excessive force by factory workers to align the fuselage sections.
Boeing executives stated that their testing and inspections found no signs of fatigue or cracking in the composite panels of the Dreamliner, emphasizing their durability.
The company’s reputation is under increased scrutiny following criticism from regulators and safety officials after the Alaska Airlines incident.
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What’s going on at Boeing?
The trust in Boeing’s safety practices has been called into question again after the tragedies involving the 737 MAX 8 aircraft, leading to grounding of all 737 MAX 8 planes for nearly two years for software fixes.
Another Senate commerce committee revealed serious flaws in Boeing’s safety culture, citing pressure on workers to expedite production over safety.
Sky News has reached out to British Airways for comment.
