Boeing Denies Whistleblower Allegations of Fuselage Integrity Issues on 787 Dreamliner Planes
Boeing is pushing back against recent whistleblower claims regarding the integrity of the fuselages on its 787 Dreamliner planes. The allegations, made by Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour, warned of potential cracking in the fuselage due to excessive force during assembly.
In response to Salehpour’s claims, two Boeing engineering executives detailed the assembly process for the 787, emphasizing the strength of the carbon-composite skin and the thorough testing that simulates the equivalent of 165,000 flights with no signs of fatigue.
Boeing officials explained that while cracks have been found on metallic parts, inspections and guidelines have been issued for those components. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must inspect and approve each 787 plane before they are delivered to airline customers.
Despite Salehpour’s claims, Boeing asserts confidence in the safety of both the 787 Dreamliner and the wider 777 plane. The company stated that it encourages employees to report safety concerns and that employee reports have increased significantly in recent months.
Salehpour alleges that he was transferred to work on the 777 after raising safety concerns about the 787, which Boeing disputes. The FAA is reportedly investigating Salehpour’s claims, but the agency did not comment specifically on the matter.
Boeing is standing firm in its defense of the safety and integrity of its planes, as the company continues to address the whistleblower allegations and work with regulatory agencies to ensure the ongoing safety of its aircraft.
