Senate summons Boeing CEO to testify

SAN FRANCISCO — A Senate subcommittee has summoned Boeing CEO David Calhoun to testify about the company’s jetliners in an inquiry prompted by new safety-related charges from a whistleblower.

The panel said it will hold a hearing next week featuring a Boeing quality engineer, Sam Salehpour, who is expected to detail safety concerns involving the manufacture and assembly of the 787 Dreamliner. The subcommittee said in a letter those problems could create “potentially catastrophic safety risks.”

Boeing would not say whether Calhoun plans to attend the April 17 hearing. In response to a query from The Associated Press, a spokesperson said the company is cooperating with the subcommittee’s inquiry and has “offered to provide documents, testimony and technical briefings.”

The Federal Aviation Administration has also been investigating Salehpour’s claims since February, according to the subcommittee. The FAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Salehpour, whose concerns were featured in a New York Times article Tuesday, is also expected to describe retaliation he faced after bringing his concerns forward.

According to Salehpour’s account, Boeing not only failed to take his concerns seriously, it silenced him and transferred him to work on a different jetliner.

In a 1,500 word statement, Boeing said it was “fully confident” in the 787 and called concerns about structural integrity “inaccurate.”

“Retaliation is strictly prohibited at Boeing,” the company added, noting that it encourages employees to “speak up when issues arise.”