- Natalie Sherman
- new york business reporter
image source, Getty Images
Boeing 787 Dreamliner is often used on international flights
Boeing is facing new pressure after a whistleblower reported safety concerns about the production of some of its planes to U.S. regulators.
Engineer Sam Salepour accused Boeing of cutting corners in manufacturing the 787 and 777 planes.
He claimed that after he raised his concerns with his supervisor, he was “threatened with termination.”
But Boeing said that claim was “inaccurate” and added that it was confident its planes were safe.
“The issues raised were subject to rigorous engineering examination based on the following:” [Federal Aviation Administration] “There was an oversight,” the company said.
“This analysis confirms that these issues do not pose a safety concern and the aircraft will have a multi-decade service life.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it was investigating the complaint and reported that the airline had delivered just 83 aircraft to customers in the first three months of this year, its lowest number ever. As a result, the aircraft maker's stock price fell nearly 2% on Tuesday. From 2021.
The whistleblower complaint, first reported by the New York Times, is the latest incident to focus attention on the safety of planes made by U.S.-based Boeing Co., one of the world's two largest airliner manufacturers.
The company was already facing a criminal investigation and other legal troubles after an unused exit door on one of its smaller 737 Max 9 planes broke shortly after takeoff in January.
None of the passengers were seriously injured, but the incident plunged the airline into crisis, forcing the grounding of dozens of 737 Max 9 planes, a regulatory investigation and forcing Boeing to halt production of the aircraft. It was delayed significantly.
The company is once again under intense scrutiny, with Chief Executive David Calhoun announcing last month that he would step down by the end of the year.
On Tuesday, lawyers for engineer Salepour said Boeing made decisions in assembling the 787 that stressed the joints that connect parts of the plane, and the problem affects more than 1,000 planes. He said that it affected him.
In a whistleblower complaint filed with the FAA in January, he claimed the method could shorten the lifespan of the aircraft.
“These issues stem from Boeing's recent decisions to prioritize profits over safety and FAA regulations that have been too deferential to the industry,” his attorneys Debra Katz and Lisa Banks said in a statement. “This is a direct result of the authorities.”
The lawyers added that Salepour was transferred to work on the 777 after he raised concerns.
They said he soon discovered another problem with the plane's assembly.
“He was threatened with termination, excluded from important meetings, projects, and communications, denied requests for reasonable medical leave, assigned unprofessional work, and effectively treated co-workers persona non grata.” ,” they said.
The 787 Dreamliner is a larger plane than the 737, which is often used on international flights. It has been in service since 2011, but has been the subject of quality complaints almost from the beginning.
Boeing ultimately slowed production and halted deliveries for nearly two years in response to the issues raised. The FAA has given Boeing permission to resume deliveries in 2022.
The FAA, which has increased its scrutiny of Boeing since the door plug explosion in January, said in a statement that it is encouraging airline industry officials to share information.
In response to a question about the report, the agency said, “We thoroughly investigate all reports.”
