(ConservativeSense.com) – A new whistleblower has accused Boeing of cutting corners on safety during aircraft production. Engineer Sam Salehpour filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration alleging that the company rushed the output of its 777 and 787 models, putting the aircraft at risk as they age. Mr. Salehpour told the federal agency that parts of the fuselage, purchased from various manufacturers, often did not fit together as they should, but Boeing did not address related safety concerns.
Salehpour’s attorneys, Debra Katz and Lisa Banks, said their client did all he could to bring this to the attention of Boeing officials, but they prioritized getting the aircraft to market “as quickly as possible.” Furthermore, Salahpour claims company managers threatened to fire him for alerting them.
Boeing denies the allegations, calling them “inaccurate.” The company also insisted that its work includes “exhaustive testing” under FAA supervision. However, the FAA has itself faced Congressional criticism for outsourcing safety checks to Boeing, and lacking the engineering expertise to ensure manufacturing meets the highest possible standards. In 2019, FAA employees said Boeing had too much power, and the agency had not done enough to hold it accountable.
The new allegations come just weeks after John Barnett, a former Boeing employee, gave evidence in a lawsuit against the company and said substandard parts were fitted to the aircraft during production. Barnett worked with Boeing for more than 30 years before retiring in 2017. Days after his damning testimony, hotel workers found him dead in his truck. The Charleston County Coroner in South Carolina said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
However, in March, media reports surfaced with claims from Barnett’s friend that she was worried for his safety. A woman named Jennifer told an ABC affiliate that she discussed the matter with Mr. Barnett, and while he was not fearful, he told her, “If anything happens to me, it’s not suicide.”
Boeing CEO David Calhoun resigned earlier this year, along with several executives.
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