The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a Boeing whistleblower's claims that the company dismissed safety and quality concerns in the production of the planemaker's 787 and 777 jets, an agency spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour said he identified engineering problems that affected the structural integrity of the jets and claimed Boeing employed shortcuts to reduce bottlenecks during the 787 assembly process, his attorneys said in a release.
Boeing has faced quality problems and manufacturing flaws with the 787 widebody jet that prompted it to halt deliveries for more than a year until August 2022 as the FAA investigated the concerns. The planemaker is already grappling with a safety crisis following a Jan. 5 mid-air panel blowout on a 737 MAX plane that resulted in the resignation of both its board chair and CEO.
In a statement, Boeing said it was fully confident in the 787 Dreamliner, adding that the claims "are inaccurate and do not represent the comprehensive work Boeing has done to ensure the quality and long-term safety of the aircraft."
Boeing shares were down nearly 2% at $178.19 on Tuesday afternoon after the FAA confirmed the investigation, which was first reported by the New York Times. Reuters was not able to independently verify the whistleblower's claims.
"Voluntary reporting without fear of reprisal is a critical component in aviation safety," the FAA said. "We strongly encourage everyone in the aviation industry to share information. We thoroughly investigate all reports."
An agency source said the FAA has met with the whistleblower.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal's office said his investigation subcommittee will hold a hearing on Boeing issues with Salehpour on April 17 titled "Examining Boeing’s Broken Safety Culture: Firsthand Accounts."
Salehpour's attorneys say workers used shortcuts during the 787 assembly process that added on major airplane joints.
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," said attorneys Debra Katz and Lisa Banks in a statement on Tuesday.
Whitaker has taken a hard line on Boeing since the Jan. 5 Alaska Air emergency, barred the planemaker from expanding 737 MAX production and required them to develop a comprehensive plan to address "systemic quality-control issues" within 90 days.
The FAA in August 2022 approved the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner for delivery since 2021 after the manufacturer made inspection and retrofit changes needed to meet certification standards.
At the 777 program, Salehpour claimed that Boeing pressured liaison engineers to continue production despite the presence of unexamined defects.
