The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a new investigation into Boeing following the company’s voluntary disclosure regarding potential lapses in required inspections on certain 787 Dreamliner airplanes.
The focus of the investigation is to determine whether Boeing employees completed the necessary inspections to ensure adequate bonding and grounding at the wing-fuselage junction and if any falsification of aircraft records occurred.
According to the FAA’s statement to FOX Business, the investigation is ongoing, and they are committed to taking any necessary action to maintain the safety of the flying public.
Boeing is currently reinspecting all 787 airplanes within the production system and developing a plan to address the in-service fleet.
This latest investigation adds to a series of setbacks and mishaps involving Boeing aircraft over the past few months.
🚨 #BREAKING: The FAA has launched an investigation into whether Boeing employees FALSIFIED aircraft safety inspection records
These particular inspections are INCREDIBLY important, as they relate to the BONDING OF THE WINGS to the fuselage of the 787
This also comes just a few… pic.twitter.com/sIbweFt4NQ
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 6, 2024
Fox News has reported numerous incidents with Boeing planes since January, including issues that have affected various airlines.
RELATED: Another Boeing Whistleblower Dies Unexpectedly
Southwest Airlines recently announced its decision to pull out of several airports due to financial fallout from Boeing delays, while United Airlines temporarily paused pilot hiring and asked pilots to take unpaid time off as a result of certification and manufacturing delays at Boeing.
The FAA has increased its oversight of Boeing and its supplier Spirit AeroSystems, even halting production expansion of the Max following a mid-flight door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines’ Max 9 jet in January.
United Airlines, one of two U.S. carriers operating the Boeing 737 Max 9, reported a loss of approximately $200 million due to the temporary grounding of the aircraft earlier this year.
During a Senate hearing in late April, Sam Salehpour, a whistleblower with over 40 years of engineering experience at Boeing, testified that the company is releasing defective airplanes.
Salehpour claimed that Boeing is cutting corners in the assembly of its 787 and 777 jets, specifically citing inadequate shimming, which could lead to premature fatigue failure in certain areas of the 787 Dreamliner.
The FAA is investigating Boeing (again) over the 787 Dreamliner, following employees who may have skipped inspections and falsified essential records. https://t.co/WDHTmyQRg4
— Dan | Dj’s Aviation (@DjsAviation) May 6, 2024
He also alleged that his supervisors retaliated against him for raising safety concerns over a three-year period, including transferring him out of the 787 program and even making physical threats.
Boeing has previously refuted Salehpour’s claims, stating that “the claims about the structural integrity of the 787 are inaccurate” and that the “issues raised have been subject to rigorous engineering examination under the FAA oversight.”
However, given the severity of the allegations and the potential risks to public safety, it is imperative that these claims be thoroughly investigated by an independent party.
Until a comprehensive investigation is conducted and the safety of Boeing’s aircraft can be assured, it is our position that Boeing should be banned from selling planes in the United States and worldwide.
The safety of passengers and crew must be the top priority, and any company found to be compromising on safety standards should face severe consequences.
READ NEXT: One of the Largest Hospital Chains, With 30,000+ Employees, Files For Bankruptcy
The aviation industry relies on trust and accountability, and it is crucial that manufacturers like Boeing are held to the highest standards to maintain the integrity of air travel.
