The US Federal Aviation Administration is investigating new allegations made by whistleblower Sam Salehpour, a Boeing engineer, regarding quality issues with B777 and B787 fuselages.
The whistleblower is a Boeing engineer who worked on the aircraft — he alleged that sections of the 787 Dreamliner fuselage were “improperly fastened” together in a way that could “weaken the aircraft over time.”
Salehpour raised concerns about gaps between fuselage sections and poor fitting panels supplied by various firms, which he claims were improperly aligned by workers.
Boeing, while denying Salehpour’s claims, will face a US Senate inquiry later this month regarding the alleged quality issues.
Salehpour also discovered safety concerns in the B777 production line after raising issues internally at Boeing, predicting potential negative impacts on the lifespans of over 400 B777s and 1,000 B787s. Boeing stated ongoing studies into long-term fatigue concerns and will be questioned by the US Senate on the allegations.
