The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating claims that a leading aircraft manufacturer was aware of safety concerns.
According to The Guardian, the information came from a whistleblower who worked at Boeing, and concerns are regarding the “structural integrity” of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.
The Guardian reported that a former engineer at Boeing claimed that parts of the Dreamliner were improperly attached and were at risk of breaking or falling apart mid-flight.
Passenger Concerns
The allegations are of interest to many travelers because of recent events involving Boeing planes. Incidents in recent months include an Alaska Airlines door blowing off during a flight; a plane sliding off the runway; and a flight losing a wheel before takeoff.
Some travelers have begun to question Boeing’s overall safety. The recent events have prompted flight search engines to even add notices or identifiers regarding Boeing planes.
Claims, Responses
The whistleblower employee alleged that Boeing took shortcuts in its manufacturing processes to increase completion times, compromising aircraft safety.
Debra Katz, the employee’s attorney, says that her client warned Boeing multiple times about the safety concerns but was ignored. The Guardian reported that Boeing confirmed in a statement that changes had been made but denied compromising safety.
The company insisted that the claims made by the employee were inaccurate and did not reflect the extensive safety measures taken by Boeing. Despite this, the FAA’s investigation has raised concerns about Boeing’s manufacturing practices and aircraft safety across the board.
The FAA is reportedly also looking into reported issues with Boeing’s 777 aircraft, although details on these inquiries are limited.