Boeing’s Safety Culture Under Scrutiny During U.S. Senate Hearing
Boeing’s safety culture came under intense discussion during a recent U.S. Senate hearing, where a whistleblower testified about the company’s production methods in the wake of the Alaska Airlines door plug blowout incident.
Allegations of Manufacturing Shortcuts
Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour, who first spoke out earlier this month, testified before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs’ Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Salehpour testified that he analyzed Boeing’s own data and concluded that the company is taking manufacturing shortcuts on the 787 program that may significantly reduce airplane safety and the lifecycle.
Specifically, Salehpour claimed there have been serious issues in the 787 program since 2013, with “gaps in its assembly of the fuselage.” He alleged that Boeing pushed pieces of the fuselage together with “excessive force” in an attempt to conceal the existence of these gaps. According to Salehpour, 98.7% of the time, the gaps that were supposed to have shims did not have them. He even described witnessing people jumping on the airplane pieces to align them, dubbing it the “Tarzan effect.”
However, Boeing refuted Salehpour’s claims, with the company stating that it is “fully confident” in the safety of both the 787 and 777 jets. Boeing highlighted that the global 787 fleet has safely transported more than 850 million passengers on over 4.2 million flights, and the 777 fleet has safely flown over 3.9 billion passengers.
Concerns Regarding Structural Flaws
The recent incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight, where a door plug blew out, has further intensified scrutiny on Boeing’s safety practices. The National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation revealed that the plane was missing four bolts when the door was installed. Despite requests, Boeing has been unable to provide records documenting the work on the door plug.
During the Senate hearing, Ed Pierson, the executive director of the Foundation for Aviation Safety and a former Boeing manager, testified that he received the missing records from a whistleblower and turned them over to the FBI. Pierson classified the lack of records as a “criminal cover-up” and stated that they have been available for months.
Industry experts and senators express concerns
Other experts from the aerospace industry echoed concerns over Boeing’s safety culture and its implications. Joe Jacobsen, an aerospace engineer and technical adviser to the Foundation for Aviation Safety, spoke about the long list of unsafe manufacturing and design defects for the 737 Max. He posited that this points to a company-wide problem.
Shawn Pruchnicki, a professional practice assistant professor of integrated systems engineering at Ohio State University, stated that Boeing’s issues, including the 737 Max crashes, were driven by financial considerations. These experts’ testimonials highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive examination of Boeing’s safety culture.
Next steps and implications
The Senate hearing concluded with senators expressing their shock at the revelations and vowing to continue further investigation. They highlighted the need for cooperation with the Department of Justice, as there are broader implications for accountability and potential legal ramifications.
Boeing stated that it has been actively working to foster a safety culture that promotes open communication and empowers its employees. The company highlighted its increased employee reports through their “Speak Up” portal as evidence of progress towards a robust reporting culture. They emphasized their commitment to safety, quality, and transparency.
The hearing shed light on critical issues surrounding Boeing’s safety culture, ultimately raising concerns about passenger safety and the company’s operating practices. With ongoing investigations and increased scrutiny, the spotlight remains on Boeing as the industry and regulators demand accountability.
