FAA confirms Boeing 787 investigation

BTN News
Thursday, 11 April 2024

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed it is investigating claims that plane maker Boeing covered up B787 production 'safety flaws' to meet delivery schedules.


The information - from a whistleblower engineer identified as Sam Salehpour - relates to the structural integrity of the B787 jet series.

Salehpour told the New York Times that sections of the jet's fuselage were improperly fastened together.

Salehpour also claimed Boeing employed 'shortcuts to reduce production bottlenecks' that ultimately compromised safety.

Debra Katz, Salehpour's attorney, says her client 'repeatedly warned the company' that changes to the manufacturing process for B787 jets threatened their integrity, but he was ignored and then transferred.

Boeing in a statement has confirmed manufacturing changes took place, but insisted safety had not been compromised.

Workers are encouraged “to speak up when issues arise” and “retaliation is strictly prohibited at Boeing” it said.

A Boeing spokesperson, Paul Lewis, told the Times that engineers had tested the B787 extensively and “determined that this is not an immediate safety of flight issue”.

He added that the evaluation was ongoing. “Our engineers are completing complex analysis to determine if there may be a long-term fatigue concern for the fleet in any area of the airplane,” he said.

“This would not become an issue for the in-service fleet for many years to come, if ever, and we are not rushing the team so that we can ensure that analysis is comprehensive.”

The FAA, according to Reuters, has confirmed it has spoken to Salehpour.

The B787 fleet was grounded globally in 2013 after a series of safety incidents including fires caused by faulty batteries. Deliveries were temporarily halted in 2021 following concerns over incorrectly sized panel gap fillers – and again in 2023 after 'feared bulkhead pressure problems' that turned out to be a data analysis error.

'Reported issues' with the company's B777 also are under scrutiny, the FAA says.

FAA confirms Boeing 787 investigation

BTN News
Thursday, 11 April 2024

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed it is investigating claims that plane maker Boeing covered up B787 production 'safety flaws' to meet delivery schedules.


The information - from a whistleblower engineer identified as Sam Salehpour - relates to the structural integrity of the B787 jet series.

Salehpour told the New York Times that sections of the jet's fuselage were improperly fastened together.

Salehpour also claimed Boeing employed 'shortcuts to reduce production bottlenecks' that ultimately compromised safety.

Debra Katz, Salehpour's attorney, says her client 'repeatedly warned the company' that changes to the manufacturing process for B787 jets threatened their integrity, but he was ignored and then transferred.

Boeing in a statement has confirmed manufacturing changes took place, but insisted safety had not been compromised.

Workers are encouraged “to speak up when issues arise” and “retaliation is strictly prohibited at Boeing” it said.

A Boeing spokesperson, Paul Lewis, told the Times that engineers had tested the B787 extensively and “determined that this is not an immediate safety of flight issue”.

He added that the evaluation was ongoing. “Our engineers are completing complex analysis to determine if there may be a long-term fatigue concern for the fleet in any area of the airplane,” he said.

“This would not become an issue for the in-service fleet for many years to come, if ever, and we are not rushing the team so that we can ensure that analysis is comprehensive.”

The FAA, according to Reuters, has confirmed it has spoken to Salehpour.

The B787 fleet was grounded globally in 2013 after a series of safety incidents including fires caused by faulty batteries. Deliveries were temporarily halted in 2021 following concerns over incorrectly sized panel gap fillers – and again in 2023 after 'feared bulkhead pressure problems' that turned out to be a data analysis error.

'Reported issues' with the company's B777 also are under scrutiny, the FAA says.