Boeing is under investigation by federal authorities after a whistleblower, Sam Salehpour, raised concerns about the company's manufacturing of its 777 and 787 Dreamliner jets. Salehpour claims that Boeing took shortcuts during the manufacturing process, leading to potential catastrophic risks as the planes age. The complaint was filed in January and made public on Tuesday, but is not specific to the newer 737 Max jet that has been grounded twice by the FAA.
Salehpour argues that his complaint raises "two quality issues that may dramatically reduce the life of the planes." He believes that Boeing needs to improve its processes to prevent crashes and succeed. The FAA has interviewed Salehpour as part of its investigation, and the company encourages voluntary reporting without fear of reprisal. A Senate subcommittee will also address the concerns at a hearing next week.
Boeing did not immediately comment on the claims about the 777, but disputed Salehpour's concerns about the 787. The company disputed the claims about the structural integrity of the 787, stating that they are inaccurate and do not represent the comprehensive work Boeing has done to ensure the quality and long-term safety of the aircraft.
The allegations aren't entirely new, as Boeing and the FAA halted deliveries of the new Dreamliners for nearly two years starting in 2021. Boeing said it made changes in its manufacturing process and deliveries resumed. The 787 Dreamliners were not grounded, but the FAA twice investigated questions about quality control during the jet's assembly process.
Alleged retaliation led to another discovery
Boeing whistleblower, Salehpour, claims that the company retaliated after he raised concerns about the 787 and a different plane model. He was transferred from the 787 program to the 777 program and discovered subpar work with aligning body pieces. The issues involve over 400 777s and 1,000 787s. Boeing shares fell 2% on Tuesday.
This is an emerging story. Updates will be made.