Sam Salehpour, an engineer at the planemaker, testified at a high-profile hearing on Capitol Hill, expressing concerns of potential "physical violence" after disclosing his issues publicly. He stated that Boeing lacks a safety culture, with employees who raise concerns being "ignored, marginalized, threatened, sidelined, and worse."
Having been with Boeing for over ten years, Salehpour reported a defect involving gaps between key sections of the 787 Dreamliner, affecting "more than 1,000" jets. He warned that this issue could lead to premature fatigue failure over time in two major airplane joints.
Criminal Cover-Up Allegations
At the hearing, another witness, Ed Pierson, a former Boeing engineer and current leader of the Foundation for Aviation Safety, accused the company of a "criminal cover-up" following a cabin panel blowout that triggered the latest safety crisis for the manufacturer.
The incident in January prompted renewed scrutiny regarding the production of Boeing's bestselling commercial jet, the 737 Max. This scrutiny has now extended across its entire fleet.
The Federal Aviation Administration is conducting an investigation into allegations made by Salehpour that Boeing adopted shortcuts to alleviate production bottlenecks during the manufacturing of the 787. He also highlighted concerns related to the production of the 777, another wide-body jet.
Call for Grounding of Jets
Before Wednesday's hearing, Salehpour urged Boeing to ground all 787 jets for inspection, citing concerns that sections of the fuselage might break apart after thousands of flights.
In his written testimony, Salehpour mentioned that he reached out to US Senator Richard Blumenthal because he sincerely believes that the unresolved safety issues at Boeing could lead to a catastrophic failure of a commercial airplane, potentially resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives.
He stated, "I am determined to prevent such an outcome, regardless of the impact on my career."
Boeing was requested to respond to inquiries. Recently, the company has maintained that the 787 and 777 jets are safe, characterizing Salehpour's accusations regarding the Dreamliner as "inaccurate." During a briefing this week, executives explained that a thorough regimen of tests and inspections has reinforced their confidence in the durability of the jets.
In a separate matter, as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates the cabin blowout that occurred in January, Ed Pierson noted that the agency had informed Congress of Boeing's assertion that no records exist related to the removal of a door from the jet prior to the incident, which necessitated an emergency landing of an Alaska Airlines flight.
Pierson declared, "In my opinion, this is a criminal cover-up. Records do indeed exist that detail the frantic work done on the Alaska Airlines airplane, and Boeing’s corporate leaders are aware of it… I know these documents exist because I personally handed them over to the FBI."
Facing Retaliation
Salehpour reported facing retaliation, including threats and exclusion from meetings, after he voiced concerns about issues like a gap between sections of the 787's fuselage.
Speaking to the Senate's permanent subcommittee on investigations, Salehpour detailed his efforts over three years to bring attention to these issues within Boeing. He stated, "I was ignored," "I was told not to create delays," and was bluntly instructed to "shut up."
He recounted an instance where, upon attempting to discuss these problems, his supervisor allegedly threatened him, saying, "I would have killed anyone who said what you said if it was from some other group, I would tear them apart."
Boeing, however, has maintained that retaliation is "strictly prohibited" within the company.
Following efforts to reassure regulators, airlines, and passengers after the incident in January, Dave Calhoun, Boeing's Chief Executive, and Larry Kellner, Chairman of its Board, announced their resignations last month.
In his testimony, Salehpour expressed his belief that Boeing could improve and that public trust in Boeing could be restored. He stated, "I hope that this committee will hold Boeing accountable and demand an end to a business culture that prioritizes profit and speed over safety."