A Boeing engineer, Sam Salehpour, has called for the airplane manufacturer to halt production of its 787 Dreamliner due to safety concerns. Salehpour expressed worries that the plane could potentially drop from the sky if the safety issues were not addressed. He highlighted gaps in the fuselages of the plane that could lead to premature fatigue failure as the aircraft ages. Salehpour emphasized that he would not allow his own family to fly on a 787 due to these safety concerns.
In response to Salehpour’s comments, Boeing quickly denied the allegations, stating that the claims about the structural integrity of the 787 were inaccurate. The company asserted that the issues raised had undergone rigorous engineering examination under FAA oversight. Additionally, two Boeing engineers defended the integrity of the Dreamliner during a media tour, highlighting that the plane had been stress-tested for 165,000 cycles without failure. They also noted that an inspection of 689 out of 1,000 787s in use worldwide did not uncover any evidence of fatigue.
Salehpour is scheduled to testify before a US Senate subcommittee regarding his safety concerns about the 787 Dreamliner. He previously raised questions about the Dreamliner’s fuselages, explaining that they are made up of pieces from different companies, leading to small gaps in how the parts fit together. Despite Boeing’s denial of Salehpour’s claims, he remains steadfast in his belief that the safety issues within the 787 must be addressed to ensure passenger safety.
The alarming safety concerns regarding the Boeing 787 come at a time when the company is under increased scrutiny following a mid-flight incident involving a door panel from a 737 Max 9 on an Alaska Airlines flight. The incident led to Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun announcing plans to resign and has prompted a closer examination of the company’s manufacturing processes. Salehpour initially brought his concerns to the FAA in January and raised them internally in 2022, resulting in being transferred to the 777 line.
Salehpour’s lawyer, Lisa Banks, has indicated that several other Boeing employees have come forward with similar concerns about safety issues within the company. These whistleblowers have reported comparable issues to those raised by Salehpour, further adding to the credibility of his allegations. Banks expressed confidence in Salehpour’s claims, citing Boeing’s own data and Salehpour’s extensive experience as a quality engineer. Salehpour has made it clear that he is willing to face any professional consequences in order to ensure that safety concerns are addressed and passenger safety is prioritized within Boeing’s operations.
