Boeing Faces Scrutiny Over 787 Dreamliner Record Falsification
In a recent development that adds to Boeing’s ongoing troubles, the aerospace giant acknowledged falsifying inspection records for its 787 Dreamliner aircraft. This admission came in the wake of reports about a new federal investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) into the company’s practices.
The FAA announced on Monday that it had initiated an inquiry focused on whether Boeing had been involved in the falsification of 787 Dreamliner inspection records, a concern originally highlighted by the Wall Street Journal. Further reports by the Seattle Times unveiled Boeing’s internal disclosure, revealing that certain employees at its North Charleston, South Carolina assembly plant were responsible for the falsified records. The FAA, confirming the ongoing investigation, stated that Boeing had voluntarily reported possible lapses in required inspections pertaining to the bonding and grounding at the fuselage-wing junctions of some 787 Dreamliners. The agency is examining both the completion of these inspections and the potential falsification of aircraft records, with a commitment to uphold public safety standards.
Boeing’s executive, Scott Stocker, shared an internal note—later disclosed to the public—highlighting an instance where a Boeing staff member reported inconsistencies during a wing-body join conformance test. Stocker praised the whistleblower’s integrity, emphasising Boeing’s zero-tolerance policy towards procedural non-compliance, which is crucial for ensuring quality and safety. Despite these reassurances, Boeing faces mounting federal scrutiny following several incidents, including a January event where an Alaska Airlines flight suffered substantial damage allegedly due to a manufacturing defect.
This series of federal investigations, combined with the untimely deaths of whistleblowers who had raised safety concerns, has significantly tarnished Boeing’s reputation.
