A Longtime Boeing Engineer, Sam Salehpour, Files Complaint with Federal Authorities Against the Company for Ignoring Concerns About Quality and Safety During the Production of Its Troubled 787 Dreamliner Jets. Salehpour's lawyers stated on Tuesday that he had observed Boeing taking shortcuts during the assembly process of the 787 that put excessive stress on critical joints and left drilling debris between the connections in more than 1,000 aircraft. These defects could reduce the lifespan of the planes and might be difficult to detect.
Boeing Rejects Accusations and Emphasizes the Company's Confidence in the Safety of the Jets, Which Are Subject to Strict Supervision by the Federal Aviation Administration. The Issues Have Already Been Addressed and Adequately Dealt With. The FAA Declined to Comment on the Complaint Received in January, but Stressed the Importance of Voluntary Reports Without Fear of Retaliation for Flight Safety.
The allegations come at a time when Boeing is under increased scrutiny for its quality control and manufacturing operations, particularly after an incident involving an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX aircraft in January. Boeing has struggled in recent years with the quality of the 787 Dreamliner built in South Carolina, which is often used on long-haul flights. Deliveries of the aircraft were largely halted for almost two years from 2020 due to various production and regulatory issues.
Salehpour, who is responsible as a Quality Engineer for the investigation and analysis of production defects at Boeing, claims Boeing inadequately addressed minor gaps at the aircraft's joints in 2021. After raising his concerns, he was involuntarily transferred from the 787 to the 777 program and then threatened with dismissal after reporting issues with the 777 program to his superiors. His lawyers argue that these problems directly result from Boeing's decision to prioritize profits over safety, supported by the FAA's overly permissive stance towards the industry. However, Boeing emphasizes that retaliatory actions are prohibited and employees are encouraged to report quality and safety concerns.
