Boeing’s woes just don’t seem to end. The airline manufacturer is under increased pressure after a whistleblower raised safety concerns with US regulators about the manufacturing process of several of its planes. Engineer Sam Salehpour has accused Boeing of taking shortcuts during the production of its 777 and 787 Dreamliner jets.
The engineer claimed he was “threatened with termination” after raising concerns with his employers.
However, Boeing stated that the assertions were “inaccurate” and voiced confidence in the aircraft’s safety.
“The issues raised have been subject to rigorous engineering examination under [Federal Aviation Administration] oversight,” said the company. “This analysis has validated that these issues do not present any safety concerns, and the aircraft will maintain its service life over several decades,” it added.
Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour said that the aircraft maker took shortcuts in manufacturing its 777 and 787 Dreamliner jets
Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour said that the aircraft maker took shortcuts in manufacturing its 777 and 787 Dreamliner jets and that the risks could become catastrophic as the plane ages.
The complaint filed by the whistleblower was first reported by The New York Times.
The Federal Aviation Administration submitted a formal complaint in January, which was made public on Tuesday (April 9).
However, the lawsuit did not directly mention the newer 737 Max jet, which the Federal Aviation Administration has grounded twice.
Salehpour stated on Tuesday that his lawsuit addresses “two quality issues that may dramatically reduce the life of the planes.”
“I am doing this not because I want Boeing to fail, but because I want it to succeed and prevent crashes from happening,” Salehpour told reporters.
“The truth is, Boeing can’t keep going the way it is. It needs to do a little bit better, I think,” he added.
The FAA claimed that it was investigating all of the complaints filed by Salehpour
According to Salehpour’s attorney, Lisa Banks, the FAA interviewed him as part of their inquiry. The FAA claimed that it was investigating all of the complaints filed by him.
“Voluntary reporting without fear of reprisal is a critical component of aviation safety. We strongly encourage everyone in the aviation industry to share information,” said the FAA.
A Senate committee will also hold a hearing next week to discuss these issues.
“We are fully confident in the 787 Dreamliner. These claims about the structural integrity of the 787 are inaccurate and do not represent the comprehensive work Boeing has done to ensure the quality and long-term safety of the aircraft,” the company said in a statement.
Boeing also added that “the issues raised have been subject to rigorous engineering examination under FAA oversight” and that they “do not present any safety concerns.”