Boeing is currently under investigation by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for quality controls on its long-haul model 787 “Dreamliner.” The FAA announced this investigation on Monday after Boeing informed them that connection points between the fuselage and wings on some aircraft may not have been properly checked. The FAA is now looking into whether required inspections were conducted and if audit documents may have been falsified by Boeing employees.
The investigation was sparked by a tip from a Boeing employee who noticed a violation of audit requirements and reported it to management, as stated by 787 program manager Scott Stocker in an email to employees. Quality oversight at Boeing has been under scrutiny since a dramatic incident in early January when a fuselage fragment broke off in row 26 of a new Boeing 737-9 Max operated by Alaska Airlines. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the incident brought attention to potential safety concerns.
Boeing clarified that this issue is not an urgent safety concern for current airline fleets and that no aircraft need to be grounded. The 787 program was recently discussed in a US Senate hearing after a Boeing employee acted as a whistleblower and criticized the large gaps between fuselage parts on many aircraft, possibly shortening their service life. Boeing has denied these allegations and defended the quality of its aircraft. The company continues to work closely with the FAA and other regulatory bodies to address any concerns and maintain the safety of its aircraft.