JUMBO JET OF A PROBE FAA eyes Boeing
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a Boeing whistleblower’s claims that the plane-maker’s parts are outsourced from different manufacturers and don’t fit together on the assembly line.
The whistleblower — engineer Sam Salehpour, who worked for Boeing for more than a decade — said that the 787 Dreamliners’ fuselages come in different pieces, all from different companies, a process that affects how the pieces fasten together, The New York Times has reported.
Salehpour’s attorneys have also said workers used shortcuts during the 787 assembly process.
In a Jan. 19 letter to FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, the lawyers said Salehpour made these observations while working on the 787 program in 2021.
“Rather than heeding his warnings, Boeing prioritized getting the planes to market as quickly as possible, despite the known, well-substantiated issues he raised,” attorneys Debra Katz and Lisa Banks added in a Tuesday statement.
The 787 also faced scrutiny in 2021, after the FAA investigated concerns about the aircraft’s ability to meet certification standards.
The line was halted for a year, and the FAA approved the first 787 for delivery after its probe in August 2022.
Grounded in 2013
Boeing’s entire 787 fleet was also grounded in 2013, when the NTSB found that the aircrafts’ lithium-ion batteries had been short circuiting.
To date, there are roughly 1,113 787s in service, primarily used by United and American airlines in the US, as well as Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways.
When asked about whether it was probing Salehpour’s claims, the FAA told to The Post that it “thoroughly investigates all reports. Voluntary reporting without fear of reprisal is a critical component in aviation safety.”
The aircraft giant told The Post: “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.”
Boeing delivered 83 airplanes to customers in the first quarter, including 66 MAX jets, down from 130 plane deliveries during the first quarter of 2023.