During a hearing on Capitol Hill, whistleblowers from Boeing made shocking revelations, accusing the aviation company of prioritizing profits over safety. They claimed that Boeing's focus on speedy production compromised the safety standards of its aircraft.
One of the whistleblowers, Sam Salehpour, a quality engineer at Boeing, stated that the company's push for rapid production led to the overlooking of significant defects in its aircraft. Salehpour emphasized that despite public statements about safety, there is a lack of a safety culture at Boeing. Employees who raised concerns about production defects were allegedly ignored, marginalized, and even threatened.
In his testimony to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Salehpour highlighted instances where Boeing workers took shortcuts in assembling the 787 Dreamliner, leading to potentially defective parts and installations in the aircraft fleet.
The Federal Aviation Administration is currently looking into Salehpour's allegations to determine the validity of his claims.
Salehpour's Allegations Against Boeing
During a recent Senate hearing, whistleblower Salehpour made startling claims against Boeing. He stated that Boeing managers not only ignored his concerns but also pressured him to remain silent. Salehpour revealed that he was instructed to avoid creating delays and to stop raising issues internally. This led to his reassignment to work on Boeing's 777 program, where he witnessed alarming practices. Salehpour described seeing individuals physically adjusting airplane parts to make them fit, highlighting potential safety risks.
Concerns Raised by Another Whistleblower
Joining Salehpour at the hearing was former Boeing engineer Ed Pierson, who is also the executive director of The Foundation for Aviation Safety. Pierson echoed Salehpour's worries by expressing his own apprehensions about Boeing's safety protocols. He emphasized that the hazardous manufacturing conditions that contributed to the 737 MAX disasters and other incidents still persist. Pierson's concerns stem from recent aviation accidents involving Boeing aircraft, including a January incident where a door plug detached from an Alaska Airlines jet mid-flight.
Senate Subcommittee's Actions
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the Democratic chair of the Senate subcommittee, along with Sen. Ron Johnson, the senior Republican member, have requested Boeing to provide six years' worth of documents. Blumenthal announced plans for additional hearings to address the safety concerns surrounding Boeing's planes. The subcommittee anticipates Boeing CEO David Calhoun's presence for questioning in the upcoming sessions.
During Wednesday's hearings, neither Calhoun nor any Boeing representatives were present. However, a Boeing spokesperson stated that the company is cooperating with the lawmakers' inquiry and is willing to provide documents and briefings.
Boeing has refuted Salehpour's accusations and has vouched for the safety of its aircraft, including the Dreamliner. Two Boeing engineering executives reassured this week that years of design testing and inspections have shown no signs of fatigue or cracking in the composite panels used in the 787.
"A 787 can continue to operate safely for at least 30 years before requiring expanded airframe maintenance routines," Boeing asserted in a statement. "Thorough and stringent testing of the fuselage, along with heavy maintenance checks on nearly 700 in-service airplanes, have not uncovered any evidence of airframe fatigue."
"Under the supervision of the FAA, we have meticulously inspected and improved airplanes, enhancing production quality to meet precise standards measured in the one hundredths of an inch," the company emphasized.
Boeing officials have also rejected Salehpour's statement about witnessing factory workers jumping on sections of fuselage on the 777, one of Boeing's largest passenger planes, to align them.
