Boeing scandal: Allegations of Defective Airplanes Surface

Boeing faced more criticism at two Senate committee hearings on Wednesday, with witnesses raising concerns about the company's airplane manufacturing and safety.

One important witness was Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour, who spoke out as a whistleblower. He revealed that he had faced threats for reporting safety issues to his managers over the years. Despite this, he decided to testify because he believes that "defective airplanes" are being produced.

"I have serious concerns about the safety of the 787 and 777 aircraft and I’m willing to take on professional risk to talk about them," he said in his opening statement. He mentioned that when he raised concerns, he felt ignored and was even told not to create delays or speak up.

He also pointed out that Boeing used excessive force, including people jumping on pieces of the airplane, to correct misalignment between sections of jets. According to him, the gap ended up being much more than the 5/1000th of an inch allowed by Boeing’s own standards.

Boeing did not present any witnesses at the hearings on Wednesday. However, during a briefing earlier this week, the company defended the standards used in plane construction. Boeing explained that the 5/1000th of an inch gap is equivalent to the width of a human hair or two pieces of paper. They described this as a "hyper-conservative" standard. Despite the gap sometimes being wider than prescribed, inspections of the jets have shown no signs of fatigue or issues even after years of service.

Salehpour disagreed with Boeing's assurances, stating that they are not valid.

"When flying at 35,000 feet, even the smallest thing like a human hair can be a critical issue," he mentioned.

Later in the hearing, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the safety culture. "I have a very negative outlook on the safety culture," he explained. "Whenever I try to report something to my supervisor, he stops me from documenting or sharing the information. It's worrying when a quality manager advises against sending a matter to an expert."

Ed Pierson, a former Boeing manager and the executive director of The Foundation for Aviation Safety, testified as another witness. He expressed concern about the lack of paperwork provided to National Transportation Safety Board investigators following a door plug incident on a Boeing 737 Max flight by Alaska Airlines in January. Pierson described the missing documentation as a serious issue, calling it “a criminal cover-up.”

During his opening comments, Pierson mentioned the existence of records that detail the intense work carried out on the Alaska Airlines airplane. He pointed out that Boeing's corporate leaders are aware of these records, as they had actively tried to prevent their release after the two Max crashes.

Boeing has not yet given federal investigators the documentation showing which employees were involved in the door plug incident on the Alaska Air flight. The plug came off because it was missing four bolts that were necessary to keep it secure. Boeing has mentioned that they have looked for records but think their employees did not document their work.

Senators from both parties have raised worries about the testimony.

"This story is very concerning," mentioned Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who leads the Senate permanent subcommittee on investigations. He highlighted that there are increasing and alarming accusations pointing towards Boeing having a flawed safety culture and engaging in unacceptable practices.

Boeing Quality Engineer Sam Salehpour prepares to testify during the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations hearing to examine Boeing's broken safety culture in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Boeing Quality Engineer Sam Salehpour is getting ready to speak at the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations hearing. This hearing will focus on Boeing's safety culture and will take place at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Sipa

Since the hearing was announced, the committee has been contacted by more whistleblowers within Boeing. One mechanic from the nonunion South Carolina factory shared his experience, stating that when he raised concerns, he was informed that there were many others waiting outside for their jobs.

According to Blumenthal, Boeing is facing a critical moment that has been building up over many years. This moment is not the result of a single incident, flight, or plane.

During the briefing on Monday before the hearing, Boeing mentioned that they have been urging their employees to report any safety issues. Since the Alaska air incident, more employees have been coming forward with their concerns.

However, Republican Sen. Ron Johnson from Wisconsin, who is a ranking committee member, emphasized the importance of listening to whistleblowers. He stated that while everyone wants Boeing to do well, it is crucial to hear from those who raise red flags about safety issues.

"I don't want this committee to scare the American public," he said. "I want people to feel confident about flying. But I have to say, this testimony is really worrying. We need to take this seriously and investigate it thoroughly."

Editor's P/S:

The Senate committee hearings on Boeing's manufacturing and safety practices have brought to light serious concerns about the company's culture and operations. Boeing whistleblower Sam Salehpour's testimony revealed a pattern of threats and intimidation against employees who raised safety issues, indicating a systemic problem within the company. His revelations about excessive force used in jet assembly, coupled with Boeing's lack of documentation in the Alaska Air door plug incident, paint a disturbing picture of a company prioritizing production over safety.

The hearings also exposed a negative safety culture, with whistleblowers alleging that their concerns were dismissed or suppressed. Former Boeing manager Ed Pierson's testimony about missing paperwork related to the Alaska Air incident suggests a potential cover-up, further eroding trust in Boeing's internal processes. Senators from both parties expressed alarm at these allegations, highlighting the urgent need for a thorough investigation and systemic changes within Boeing. The safety of the traveling public depends on holding the company accountable for its actions and ensuring that its aircraft meet the highest standards of safety.