Boeing, a troubled jet company, is facing a new investigation from the US after it informed air safety regulators that it may not have properly inspected its 787 Dreamliner planes. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it is looking into potential falsification of records by Boeing staff, prompting the company to conduct reinspections on 787 jets still on the manufacturing line. Additionally, Boeing will be required to develop an “action plan” to address concerns about planes already in service.
The investigative process conducted by the FAA will focus on determining whether Boeing carried out the necessary inspections and if employees falsified aircraft records. The FAA emphasized its commitment to taking any required action to ensure the safety of the flying public as the investigation progresses. This new probe into Boeing follows a series of problems that have surfaced since January, starting with an incident where an unused emergency exit door detached from a new 737 Max 9 shortly after take-off, leading to increased scrutiny on the company’s manufacturing and safety practices.
The fallout from the incident forced Boeing to temporarily ground numerous planes and significantly reduce production, while also attracting regulatory oversight and legal troubles. Boeing’s chief executive Dave Calhoun announced in March that he would be stepping down by the end of the year, as the company works to address its issues. A recent Congressional hearing featured whistleblowers, including Sam Salehpour, who raised concerns about the 787 that were allegedly ignored by Boeing. The company claims to be implementing changes in its corporate culture to encourage employees to speak up about problems, citing a significant increase in reports since January.